Contractions in English: Common Examples and Sentences – The Learner's Nook
June 13, 2021 by Josh Chapman	
Contractions are words that have been shortened, making them more casual and closer to the way people actually speak day-to-day. Common examples of contractions are “aren’t,” “we’re,” or “she’s.” In each case, we use an apostrophe (‘), to show that we are dropping sounds in a word that we don’t use when speaking casually in English.
Learning contractions can help you improve your English by making it sound more casual and natural. Most native English speakers don’t speak in full, proper sentences, so when learning English, everyone should know common contractions in English to sound more fluent.
How Do Contractions Work?
When people speak in English, we often drop sounds and combine common words together. This makes it easier to speak quickly. However, it can be confusing for people who are learning. In written dialogue, these contractions may also be included to represent how people are actually speaking.
To create a contraction, all you need to do is remove the letters that are being dropped and add an apostrophe (‘). So the words “she is” are often put together and shortened. We remove the “i” sound and represent this by writing “she’s.”
The Most Common Contractions in English
What are = What’re
Why is = Why’s
How are = How’re
Be Contraction Examples
He’s better than Tommy.
They’re at the park right now.
You are not = You’re not / You aren’t
He is not = He’s not / He isn’t
She is not = She’s not / She isn’t
It is not = It’s not / It isn’t
We are not = We’re not / We aren’t
They are not = They’re not / They aren’t
That is not = That’s not / That isn’t
Who is not = Who’s not / Who isn’t
What are not* = What aren’t
When is not* = When isn’t
Why is not* = Why isn’t
How are not* = How aren’t
* Not commonly said outside of the contraction
Be (Negative) Contraction Examples
He isn’t better than Tommy.
They’re not at the park.
These have = These’ve
There has = There’s
Where has = Where’s
Why has = Why’s
How have = How’ve
To Have Contraction Examples
I’ve never had better ice cream!
Who’s been to Canada before?
I have not = I’ve not / I haven’t
You have not = You’ve not / You haven’t
He has not = He’s not / He hasn’t
She has not = She’s not / She hasn’t
It has not = It’s not / It hasn’t
We have not = We’ve not / We haven’t
They have not = They’ve not / They haven’t
That has not = That’s not / That isn’t
These have not = These haven’t
There has not = There’s not / There hasn’t
Who has not = Who’s not / Who hasn’t
What have not = What haven’t
Where has not* = Where’s not / Where isn’t
Why has not* = Why hasn’t
How have not* = How haven’t
To Have (Negative) Contraction Examples
I haven’t ever had better ice cream!
Who hasn’t been to Canada before?
To Have (Past)
That had = That’d
What had = What’d
Where had = Where’d
Why had = Why’d
How had = How’d
To Have (Past) Contraction Examples
I’d wanted to be a teacher when I was a kid.
To Have (Past / Negative)
I had not = I hadn’t
You had not = You hadn’t
He had not = He hadn’t
She had not = She hadn’t
It had not = It hadn’t
We had not = We hadn’t
They had not = They hadn’t
That had not = That hadn’t
What had not = What hadn’t
Where had not = Where hadn’t
Why had not = Why hadn’t
To Have (Past / Negative) Contraction Examples
I hadn’t been to my school since 1985.
We hadn’t believed him.
That would = That’d
There would = There’d
Who would = Who’d
Why would = Why’d
How would = How’d
Would Contraction Examples
He’d rather have chicken.
Who’d want that?
Would (Negative)
You would = You wouldn’t
He would = He wouldn’t
She would = She wouldn’t
It would = It wouldn’t
We would = We wouldn’t
They would = They wouldn’t
That would = That wouldn’t
There would = There wouldn’t
Who would = Who wouldn’t
Where would = Where wouldn’t
When would = When wouldn’t
Why would = Why wouldn’t
How would = How wouldn’t
Would (Negative) Contraction Examples
He wouldn’t ever eat chicken.
Who wouldn’t want to go to Disney Land?
These will = These’ll
There will = There’ll
Who will = Who’ll
What will = What’ll
Where will = Where’ll
When will = When’ll
Why will = Why’ll
How will = How’ll
Will Contraction Examples
It’ll take some time to finish.
How’ll he beat them?
Will (Negative)
You will = You won’t
He will = He won’t
She will = She won’t’
It will = It won’t
We will = We won’t
They will = They won’t
That will = That won’t
These will = These won’t
There will = There won’t
Who will = Who won’t
What will = What won’t
Where will = Where won’t
When will = When won’t
Why will = Why won’t
Will (Negative) Contraction Examples
Why won’t they just listen!
Learn to Speak More Fluently
If you’re interested in learning how to speak English like a native, it all starts with strong phonics skills. Learn more about phonics and pronunciation on our Phonics Home Page.
English Learner Topics English Pronunciation Guide How to Learn English at Home How to Learn English Fluently	