Here is our top list of contraction words that you can add to your writing.
Understanding English contraction words is critical in speaking, writing, and reading. Not knowing how contraction words work will confuse learners and make studying the language more challenging.
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What Are Contraction Words?
A contraction results from combining two or more words to create a shorter term with different sounds and spelling. The keyword for contraction words is “shortened.” They can be used to make writing less formal. Contraction words are easier to read, making any type of writing sound more relatable and casual.
You can make contractions by removing certain letters and replacing them with an apostrophe (‘). When using contractions in writing, remember not to put contractions at the end of a sentence. This way, you’ll make your writing simple, engaging, and fun.
Listed below are the different types of contraction words to use in writing and communicating:
| Am Not = Ain’t | Kind of = Kinda | We Have = We’ve |
| Are Not = Aren’t | Let Me = Lemme | We Will = We’ll |
| Bet You = Betcha | Let Us = Let’s | What Are = What’re |
| Can Not = Can’t | Might Have = Might’ve | What Are You = Whatcha |
| Could Have = Could’ve | Might Not = Mightn’t | What Is = What’s |
| Could Not = Couldn’t | Must Have = Must’ve | What Have = What’ve |
| Do Not = Don’t | Must Not = Mustn’t | What Will = What’ll |
| Does Not = Doesn’t | Need Not = Needn’t | When Is = When’s |
| Don’t Know = Dunno | Of the Clock = O’clock | When Will = When’ll |
| Don’t You = Doncha | Ought Not = Oughtn’t | Where Are = Where’re |
| Give Me = Gimme | Out of = Outta | Where Is = Where’s |
| Going to = Gonna | She Is = She’s | Where Have = Where’ve |
| Got to = Gotta | She Will = She’ll | Where Will = Where’ll |
| Got You = Gotcha | Should Have = Should’ve | Why Are = Why’re |
| Has Not = Hasn’t | Should Not = Shouldn’t | Why Is = Why’s |
| Have Not = Haven’t | Sort of = Sorta | Why Have = Why’ve |
| He Is = He’s | That Is = That’s | Why Will = Why’ll |
| He Will = He’ll | That Will = That’ll | Who Is = Who’s |
| How Are = How’re | That Would = That’d | Who Have = Who’ve |
| How Is = How’s | There Is = There’s | Who Will = Who’ll |
| How Have = How’ve | They Are = They’re | Will Not = Won’t |
| I Am = I’m | They Have = They’ve | Wont You = Woncha |
| I Had = I’d | They Will = They’ll | Would Not = Wouldn’t |
| I Have = I’ve | Want to = Wanna | You All = Y’all |
| I Will = I’ll | We Are = We’re | You Are = You’re |
| Is Not = Isn’t | It Is = It’s | You Have You’ve |
| It Was = ‘twas | It Will = It’ll | You Will = You’ll |
Are you writing a story? Make your work more interesting by using different points of view.
Subject Pronoun + Verb Contraction Words
The combination of subject pronouns and verbs is common in English. In most cases, you will add a verb to a pronoun, but you can also use nouns and words like “here” and “there.” Take note that adding “would” and “had” for this type is also possible. Here are some examples you can study:
- He Is = He’s
Look at the small boy with blonde hair; he’s the youngest brother of Clyde.
- He Will = He’ll
Don’t worry, Jason promised he’ll pay for our breakfast.
- I Am = I’m
I’m going to the park.
- I Have = I’ve
I’ve never eaten exotic foods.
- I Will = I’ll
I’ll finish the task today.
- It Is = It’s
It’s time for your medicine.
- It Will = It’ll
It’ll take me about an hour or two to finish the task.
- She Is = She’s
She’s crying while listening to a song.
- She Will = She’ll
I know she’ll get the highest score.
- That Is = That’s
Linda is not coming; that’s why Angelo is sad.
- That Will = That’ll
Give Jana strong coffee that’ll sober her up.
- They Are = They’re
They’re selling the latest headphones model.
- They Have = They’ve
They’ve never seen the new neighbors.
- They Will = They’ll
My parents said they’ll be back on Wednesday.
- We Are = We’re
We’re preparing for the game tomorrow.
- We Have = We’ve
We’ve been looking for you!
- We Will = We’ll
We’ll have to stay here if it continues to rain.
- You Are = You’re
You’re good at painting!
- You Have You’ve
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
- You Will = You’ll
You’ll have to ask the committee to join the contest. Check out this list of th words.
Verb + Not Contraction Words
Verb + contraction words can be known as negating contractions. This category includes “not” to negate a verb. To create these contractions, the space between the two words is eliminated. Then, the “o” in “not” is removed and replaced with an apostrophe. Check out the examples below to better understand these words.
- Are Not = Aren’t
Why aren’t you telling me the truth?
- Can Not = Can’t
I can’t do this anymore!
- Could Not = Couldn’t
I couldn’t find my favorite book.
- Do Not = Don’t
Don’t worry; I know we can do this.
- Does Not = Doesn’t
He looks like a prince, doesn’t he?
- Has Not = Hasn’t
Lia hasn’t been well the past few days.
- Have Not = Haven’t
I haven’t slept for days!
- Is Not = Isn’t
Isn’t that your boyfriend?
- Might Not = Mightn’t
You mightn’t believe it, but I know she is lying!
- Must Not = Mustn’t
Tell your friends they mustn’t make a lot of mess.
- Need Not = Needn’t
Dad said we needn’t go until about eight o’clock.
- Ought Not = Oughtn’t
Gian oughtn’t to miss the big job opportunity.
- Should Not = Shouldn’t
I shouldn’t have gone to this party.
- Will Not = Won’t
Hey honey, just reminding you that I won’t be home tonight.
- Would Not = Wouldn’t
I wouldn’t mind spending forever with you.
Interrogative Contraction Words
Interrogative contractions are used when asking questions. The rule here is to combine interrogative adverbs with a verb. See how to form and use interrogative contractions below:
- How Are = How’re
Hi, how’re you doing today?
- How Is = How’s
How’s your knee injury?
- How Have = How’ve
How’ve you been the past year?
- What Are = What’re
What’re your favorite books to read?
- What Is = What’s
What’s the new student’s name?
- What Have = What’ve
What’ve you done with my project?
- What Will = What’ll
Dad warns me of what’ll happen if I try to break my promise.
- When Is = When’s
When’s the enrollment for senior high school?
- When Will = When’ll
When’ll we do this again?
- Where Are = Where’re
Where’re you going for summer vacation?
- Where Is = Where’s
Where’s the supermarket’s dairy section?
- Where Have = Where’ve
Where’ve you been?
- Where Will = Where’ll
Where’ll we be looking for a new Juliet?
- Why Are = Why’re
Why’re you always late for my class, Miss Andrews?
- Why Is = Why’s
Why’s there no 13th floor in that tall building?
- Why Have = Why’ve
Why’ve you quit your job?
- Why Will = Why’ll
Why’ll my order be later than the others?
- Who Is = Who’s
Who’s the new executive secretary?
- Who Have = Who’ve
Jackie Chan is one of the best Asian stars who’ve made it big in Hollywood.
- Who Will = Who’ll
If the Queen dies, who’ll inherit the crown?
Informal Contraction Words
Informal contraction words, like the label suggests, are words accepted in casual conversation. They’re usually used when speaking but never in formal writing. Look at the examples below to know how to use these words in communication.
- Bet You = Betcha
I betcha my allowance this week that Kyla will reject Andrew.
- Don’t Know = Dunno
I dunno what you are talking about.
- Don’t You = Doncha
Doncha tell me what to do!
- Give Me = Gimme
Gimme 10 minutes; I will be there soon.
- Going to = Gonna
From now on, I’m gonna look out for myself.
- Got to = Gotta
I gotta tell you something, are you busy?
- Got You = Gotcha
Mom, I gotcha favorite ice cream!
- Kind of = Kinda
It’s kinda awkward to go to a party with my brother.
- Let Me = Lemme
I know you’re busy these days but lemme know if you will come to my party.
- Out of = Outta
My friend Crystal said she wanted to get outta here immediately.
- Sort of = Sorta
This top barely covers anything, and I feel sorta naked.
- Want to = Wanna
I wanna go to the concert, but my mom says no.
- What Are You = Whatcha
Hey, bestie, whatcha doing?
- Won’t You = Woncha
Woncha like to know the reason why she said that?
Other Contraction Words
The lists above are the common contraction words used in English, but there are more contraction words that do not fit into a specific category. Here are the lists of contraction words, also recognized as English terms.
- Am Not = Ain’t
I ain’t going nowhere near those people.
- Could Have = Could’ve
I could’ve cooked for you if you had just asked.
- I Had = I’d
I’d rather be with my parents than you.
- It Was = ’twas
‘Twas nice meeting you. Can we hang out again soon?
- Let Us = Let’s
You like Princess Diana, right? Then let’s watch the new movie “The Princess” tonight.
- Might Have = Might’ve
I might’ve got a little crush on him.
- Must Have = Must’ve
Everyone must’ve evacuated before the storm.
- Of the Clock = O’clock
The organizer said the start would be at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
- Should Have = Should’ve
Cecile should’ve checked her son’s well-being before going to the market.
- That Would = That’d
If you can help me have an appointment, that’d be nice.
- There Is = There’s
There’s a massive spider in my room!
- You All = Y’all
Have y’all been to the new bar in town?
Are you looking for a surefire way to improve your writing skills? Check this article for everything you need to know about collaborative writing.For more, check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays.
