A contraction is a word that is formed by combining two words. In a contraction, an apostrophe shows where one or more letters have been left out. Contractions are commonly used in informal writing but not in formal writing.
I do not like ice cream.
I don’t like ice cream.
Notice how the words do and not have been combined to form the contraction don’t. The apostrophe shows where the o in not has been left out.
We will see you later.
We’ll see you later.
Look at the chart for some examples of commonly used contractions.
|
aren’t |
are not |
|
can’t |
cannot |
|
doesn’t |
does not |
|
don’t |
do not |
|
isn’t |
is not |
|
he’ll |
he will |
|
I’ll |
I will |
|
she’ll |
she will |
|
they’ll |
they will |
|
you’ll |
you will |
|
it’s |
it is, it has |
|
let’s |
let us |
|
she’s |
she is, she has |
|
there’s |
there is, there has |
|
who’s |
who is, who has |
Tip
Be careful not to confuse it’s with its. It’s is a contraction of the words it and is. Its is a possessive pronoun. It’s cold and rainy outside. (It is cold and rainy outside.)
The cat was chasing its tail. (Shows that the tail belongs to the cat.) When in doubt, substitute the words it is in a sentence. If sentence still makes sense, use the contraction it’s.
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