http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aContractionsSearch results for 'tag:Contractions' matching tag 'Contractions'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Apostrophes/lpmhx/post.htm#996040Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:23:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996040aman_2580Hi, 'Its' is a pronoun where as 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is'. The first line is correct. The defence is just doing its job.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Its/lkvcz/post.htmThu, 12 Nov 2009 02:12:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:969056pleasehelpCan it was also be used as it's? Or it's is only a contraction for it is and it has?http://www.englishforums.com/English/CanIWriteItThisWay/ljqhx/post.htm#967758Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:43:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:967758penicillinNo! If nothing follows, like in your example, the verb is stressed, and so it can't be contracted (a contraction can't be stressed). You need to say: Yes, they are. Thanks for replying. OK, can I write it like this? No, they aren'thttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanIWriteItThisWay/ljqhx/post.htm#967726Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:06:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:967726kooyeenNo! If nothing follows, like in your example, the verb is stressed, and so it can't be contracted (a contraction can't be stressed). You need to say: Yes, they are.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ProblemInSentence/lwxpq/post.htm#962421Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:31:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:962421deepsouthrickThe first sentence is correct. Almost. It should be "She's had to do a lot of work." The second sentence is incorrect because "She's" is a contraction of "She has." So the second sentence would actually be "She has has to do a lot of work." Hello, Is the following sentence is correct: She's had to do lot of work. I think it should be as: She's has to do lot of work. What you think?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SchoolProjectYearSon/lhjgh/post.htm#955840Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:19:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:955840khoff"What's" is a contraction for what is." "I'm" is a contraction for "I am." and so on...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheUseOfWasAndWere/lgjpd/post.htm#951795Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:54:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:951795grammar geekSee these: http://www.1-language.com/englishcourse/unit17_grammar.htm "Sometimes however we can use "there is" with compound subjects, for example: There's a bank and a post office near my house" http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=447607 "Of course, when there are two or more separate nouns following, it is quite correct to say "There is (There's) smoked salmon, caviar and stuffed olives for the buffet", despite the plurality of the idea. " And this, on how common it is to form the contraction: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002447.htmlhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenDoWeUseLetAndLets/lgkcr/post.htm#951144Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:22:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:951144avangiLet me see if I can do this. Let George do it. Let us take a cab. = Let's take a cab. "Let's" is a contraction for "let us."http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenDoWeUseLetAndLets/lgkcr/post.htm#951141Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:19:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:951141yankeeHi Vic_bubble Let's is a contraction of two words: let us . We generally use let's to make a suggestion: - Let's go swimming. = I suggest that we should go swimming. - Let's take a break. = I suggest that we should take a break. - Let's invite them to dinner. = I suggest that we should invite them to dinner.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CanAContractionBeANoun/lzpgd/post.htm#947764Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:05:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:947764jemaasjrThere is a difference between writing and speaking. If when talking you say "Whos going," the listener will likely hear it as Who is going . But if you write who's, the reader is apt to think it is a possessive, as in Who's key is this? In general, it is easy to over use contractions. Only use them when they are very commonly used. And if you like, you can never use them, except, I suppose, if the teacher wants you to.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CanAContractionBeANoun/lzpgd/post.htm#947747Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:48:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:947747califjimNo. A contraction is a combination of two different words. Each word is classified separately. For example who's is a combination of who and is . who is a pronoun, and is is a verb. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanAContractionBeANoun/lzpgd/post.htm#947746Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:47:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:947746cliveHi, Can a contraction be a noun? For example, who's, I'm etc.. These are not nouns. They are contractions of who is and I am. Are you trying to ask if you can say these things? Tom's (Tom is . . ) Yes. Tom'm (Tom am . . ) No. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanAContractionBeANoun/lzpgd/post.htmTue, 20 Oct 2009 03:43:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:947736anonymousCan a contraction be a noun? For example, who's, I'm etc..http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatRulesFormingContractions/2/mczn/Post.htm#943738Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:34:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:943738anonymousBy definition a contaction is contracting multipletwo words into one. The apostrophe is placed where the 'missing' letter(s) would have been. Untrue. A contraction could just as easily be employed in a single word, mostly in the middle of the word, but sometimes also in the beginning word. For example, ma'am, li'l, and 'cause, for madam, little, and because, respectively.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Paul/ldccd/post.htm#941108Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:48:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:941108kooyeeneven though those two words were pronounced in a contracted sort of way, Yeah, that was the problem. I don't think it's common to do so, I am not familiar with such contractions. I always say the w-sound, never skip it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichCorrectExpression/lvwdw/post.htm#940873Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:51:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:940873pengfeiPengfei: You may say (l) Why did this product NOT perform well? or (2) Why didn't this product perform well? In other words, if you wish to say, "Why did not...?" you need to use the contraction. (Hopefully, someone will explain why.) By the way, in conversation, it would be helpful to use No. 2. Thanks for your explanation.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichCorrectExpression/lvwdw/post.htm#940848Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:25:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:940848anonymousPengfei: You may say (l) Why did this product NOT perform well? or (2) Why didn't this product perform well? In other words, if you wish to say, "Why did not...?" you need to use the contraction. (Hopefully, someone will explain why.) By the way, in conversation, it would be helpful to use No. 2.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenIts/ldxrx/post.htm#937560Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:36:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:937560banu82inIt's is the contraction of It is . For example, It is a beautiful night can be wriiten as It's a beautiful night. Its is a possesive pronoun and is always followed by a noun. For example, The dog wagged its tail . He placed the violin back in its case.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowdContraction/ldlxn/post.htm#936915Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:53:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:936915fandorinYes, it could have worked. But the second part shows that "he was gawking at her", that's why only "did" fits the bill.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowdContraction/ldlxn/post.htmSat, 10 Oct 2009 18:36:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:936900pleasehelpDoes how'd mean how did or how would? Sentence goes how'd you know, he was gawking at her? It could work w/ both contractions?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Shes/ldhjp/post.htm#935697Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:18:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:935697califjimCan She's also be She was? I know it's a contraction of she is and she has You seem to be obsessing on this, because it's already been answered for you. Either you don't remember the answer, or you don't believe it. See Re: contraction . I repeat: There are no contractions with the past tense of to be ( was, were ). CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Shes/ldhjp/post.htmFri, 09 Oct 2009 20:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:935661pleasehelpCan She's also be She was? I know it's a contraction of she is and she hashttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/2/cqrgr/Post.htm#932738Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:59:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932738pleasehelpPerfect clarification CalifJim, thanks a millihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanUsedContraction/hzczk/post.htm#932737Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:54:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932737califjimThis has already been answered in another thread. Please don't keep asking the same questions in different threads. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/2/cqrgr/Post.htm#932700Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:20:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932700califjimThat's = that is and that was? No. Never was . There are no contractions with the past tense of to be ( was, were ). Since thought is past tense shouldn't it be that was No. It should not be That was . That still remains, even now, what I thought then. The two things are still the same: That and What I thought . 's, besides the possessive form, can represent is , has , or us ( Let's ). Very casually and informally in speech, it can represent does after an interrogative pronoun: Where's he buy them? How's he do that? CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanUsedContraction/hzczk/post.htm#932644Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:37:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932644pleasehelpShouldn't it be that was what we thought ? That was what we had planned but it didn't go through? Since it's all in past tense?http://www.englishforums.com/English/CanUsedContraction/hzczk/post.htm#932640Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:29:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932640khoffThat is what we thought. That is what we had planned.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/2/cqrgr/Post.htm#932639Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:29:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932639kooyeenI don't think there's a contraction for "was", at least in most varieties of English, although I remember reading somewhere that 's can also be a contraction of was (but don't think it very common and I guess it's only allowed in some specific contexts and structures). That's = That is , or That has when followed by a past participle. That's Mary = is That's been in the oven for long enough = hashttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanUsedContraction/hzczk/post.htm#932617Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:22:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932617pleasehelpBut for some reason I hear people say that's what we thought or that's what we had planned but it didn't go through . Those are sentences I've heard native speakers use on more than one occasional! Please explain!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/2/cqrgr/Post.htm#932613Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:19:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932613pleasehelpThat's = that is and that was? That's what I thought! Since thought is past tense shouldn't it be that was , but I searched online and that's is only that is or that has .http://www.englishforums.com/English/NotAlsoGrammarRulesBroken/3/hwgkm/Post.htm#932356Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:40:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932356anonymousMr. Torres-Rivero: May I leave you with three suggestions: (l) Do take the advice of these knowledgeable contributors: She not only WROTE but also SELECTED the illustrations. (2) If you hear or read : She didn't only write, but she also selected the illustrations, please be assured that many speakers do NOT consider it a huge blunder, especially with the contraction. You can google for examples. (3) Writing teachers say that when you are in doubt -- rephrase: She did not JUST write the text, (but)she ALSO selected the illustrations. Your students are fortunate to have such a conscientious teacher.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/2/cqrgr/Post.htm#931888Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:02:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931888kooyeenI don't fully understand what a contraction is. So if I put an 's, 'll, 'd, 've, etc after any word does it make it a contraction? Only in spoken English. But in written English, some contractions are not usually written that way, even if they are likely to be read as contracted. I would have seen it (can be read as I'd've seen it , but it's never written that way) However, I don't think you can contract whatever you want as long as it makes sense. Some contractions might sound odd in some dialects. Ann Cook, in American Accent Training gives examples like The dogs'll've eaten the bones = The dogs will have eaten the bones ...but for some reason I don't like to contract...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/3/cqrgr/Post.htm#931196Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:05:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931196califjimJame is a very peculiar name, but you can contract it with is as you have done. The pronunciation of Spanish is and Spanish's is the same, so there's no point in using the apostrophe construction. Use the contraction only when the pronunciation changes. The table's big enough. The box is big enough. (Not box's , because box's is pronounced box is .) The tower's rather tall. The church is rather tall. (Not church's , because church's is pronounced church is .) The teacher's ready. The boss is ready. (Not boss's , because boss's is pronounced boss is .) John's here. James is here. (Not James's , because James's is pronounced James is .) CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/2/cqrgr/Post.htm#931182Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:52:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931182pleasehelpWhat about with article? This article's so me!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/2/cqrgr/Post.htm#931040Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:55:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931040grammar geekI don't fully understand what a contraction is. So if I put an 's, 'll, 'd, 've, etc after any word does it make it a contraction? Pretty much, yes. You can't do it after every word, but don't ask me which ones are off the table - it will depend on how they sound and sometimes, things just don't sound right. Peter's on his way. He's been working hard on that project for a month now. 's can be for is or has, and context will tell you which. I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places. 'll is for will He'd been to London to visit the queen. I'd like some, please! 'd is for had or would, and context will tell you which I've been working...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/3/cqrgr/Post.htm#931039Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:51:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931039grammar geekI'm more familiar with the name "James" than "Jame" but perhaps "Jame" is a common name in other cultures. If the person's name really is "James" then it becomes "James's here" but it would sound exactly the same as "James is here" so there's no point in writing it that way. In contract "Steve's here" is common for "Steve is here." I have the same problem with "My Spanish's" - it sounds just like "My Spanish is" so why write the contraction? On the other hand, "My German's mediocre at best" sounds pretty natural.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/2/cqrgr/Post.htm#931038Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:49:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931038pleasehelpI don't fully understand what a contraction is. So if I put an 's, 'll, 'd, 've, etc after any word does it make it a contraction?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/cqrgr/post.htm#931017Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:35:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931017pleasehelpEven Jame's here!? What about my Spanish's mediocre at best.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/cqrgr/post.htm#930999Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:21:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:930999kooyeenCan these be contractions, how's(how is), what's(what is), Jame's here(Jame is here) Yes! Both spoken and written: What's your name? How's it going?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contraction/cqrgr/post.htm#930968Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:51:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:930968pleasehelpCan these be contractions, how's(how is), what's(what is), Jame's here(Jame is here)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SOrIs/lcwcl/post.htm#930931Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:22:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:930931avangiEither version is fine. The contraction is a little more casual. What are the capitals for in the first one? They should be eliminated to make the sentence correct.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DoubleLookWorthCountsDoubr/lblvb/post.htm#928079Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:50:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928079philip1. look-alike 2. like (not similar) 3. like (not similar) than she You're = contraction of you + are Your = possessivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/IWonderWriteWouldBetterInstead-WouldBetter/lbxmb/post.htm#927901Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:25:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:927901yankeeHi Anon No, using "of" rather than "have" would always be grammatically incorrect. However, it is a mistake that quite a few native speakers of English make when writing. When you say " would've been " (which is how native speakers of English typically pronounce "would have been" in conversation), the contraction would've is pronounced in a way that sounds very much like "would of" -- and that is most likely where the written mistake comes from.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BusDriverFightsWithAKid/2/lrxkc/Post.htm#924946Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:37:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924946spaced_manHello again. Sorry for the delay. I was distracted by a horrendously written online encyclopedia. But, anyway . . . "This guy is a burglar! A wrong 'un in pants in the heart of Brazil." Wrong 'un means a person of bad character (although, it can also be used to describe a bad situation). It's a contraction of wrong one. " The job's not astrophysics ; you break in, you steal, you leave." It's not astrophysics is a way of saying it's not difficult . More precisely, it's not as difficult as that attempt would appear to suggest. "Unfortunately, it's the first bit that faults this half-dressed, half-baked crook." Half-baked means foolish/stupid. Fox could be used in...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PluralOfSSes/2/zqhzz/Post.htm#924898Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:44:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924898anonymousTrue, Anonymous! Pluralized acronyms should not use apostrophes. As an experienced English Tutor/Mentor, apostrophes are used in possession of & in contractions (i.e., Jane's cat won't eat fish.) To place an apostrophe after an acronym or initialized words before the s , for instance, IOU's, would then cause the pluralized IOU to mean "IOU is" or "IOU possesses X" instead of IOUs as a plural (i.e., Jane owes you hundreds of IOUs!). Additionally, I always disliked the "PSS" or "P.SS" or "PPS" as a note to add an additional PS. Therefore, I've always used XPs, because, essentially it is an "Extra Postscript." Further, I've always written the s in "Ps" as a lowercase consonant since Postscript (or the Latin postscrīptum) is a single...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DontDoNot/lbdxd/post.htm#924768Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:14:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924768anonymousBecause there are two acceptable ways in modern English: (1) With contraction: Why don't you come in and wait? (2) Without the contraction: Why do you not come in and wait? Or in conversational English: Why not come in and wait?http://www.englishforums.com/English/DontDoNot/lbdxd/post.htmThu, 01 Oct 2009 21:40:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924752pleasehelpIf don't is a contraction of do not. Why do we say, Why don't you come in and sit down while you wait for Jimmy. Explanation please.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Contractions/kpqnc/post.htm#913763Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:913763grammar geekLet's go. There's something I want to know. Here's the remote!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Imma/3/bwxvb/Post.htm#913316Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:36:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:913316anonymousIn one of her latest songs, Whitney Houston ("call you tonight") sings: I'mma call you tonight I will baby Just as soon as I get home So "I'mma" is definetly a sort of contraction of "I will" or "I'm going to". Considering W. Houston's increasing use of black slang forms, I would say it's a vernacular english formhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TheWordGot/kpnwj/post.htm#912822Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:25:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:912822mister micawberWell, your sentences are not very good examples, but when someone uses 'Got...' (' Got any gold?' 'Got a match? ) in spoken English, it is a casual contraction of ' Have you got ', which is present perfect in tense and aspect.