List of Contractions

Have you ever watched a movie or talked to a native speaker and realized that you could not understand a word they were saying? That's a common situation happening in the first stages of learning a new language. One reason is that native speakers rarely pronounce words exactly as they appear in textbooks. Instead, they shorten and blend words, making their speech sound faster and more fluid.

In English, this happens a lot through contractions. In today's guide, we're not only giving you a list of contractions but also explaining what they are, how they appear, and when to use them.

What are Contractions?

Contractions are shortened forms of words or phrases. They are typically created by omitting one or more letters and replacing them with an apostrophe. But why does the English contractions list exist, and when is it used?

Contractions are used to reflect the way people naturally speak. In casual conversations, native speakers tend to drop certain sounds for the sake of efficiency. That's why listening to native speech might feel a bit overwhelming for learners – words in the list of English contractions are often not pronounced in their full form.

List of Common Contractions in English

Commonly used contractions in English:

• I'm (I am)
• You're (You are)
• He's (He is)
• She's (She is)
• It's (It is)
• We're (We are)
• They're (They are)
• Can't (Cannot)
• Don't (Do not)
• Won't (Will not)
• Shouldn't (Should not)
• Wouldn't (Would not)
• Couldn't (Could not)
• Isn't (Is not)
• Aren't (Are not)
• Haven't (Have not)
• Hasn't (Has not)
• Hadn't (Had not)
• Wasn't (Was not)
• Weren't (Were not)

Although there is no strict formula for creating contractions, most of them still follow a specific pattern. All you need to do is omit one or more letters from the word or phrase and replace them with an apostrophe (in a written speech). Here is an extensive contraction grammar list with the most common types of contractions.

• Pronoun + Auxiliary verb

I am → I'm.

You are → You're.

He / she / it is → He's /she's / it's.

They have → They've.

• Pronoun + Will

I will → I'll.

She will → She'll.

• Pronoun + Would

He would → He'd.

We would → We'd.

• Negative contractions

Do not → Don't.

Could not → Couldn't.

Can not → Can't.

Contraction Words List

The mentioned contractions are widely used not only in casual speech but also in formal writing. However, some words are considered informal or even slang. They are popular among native speakers, and you can often hear them when talking to locals. 

Here is the list of contractions in English and some examples of using them in sentences:

• Going to, want to, got to, ought to → gonna, wanna, gotta, oughta 

I'm gonna eat now.

We wanna go to the movies.

He's gotta go.

You oughta try this new place.

• Should have, could have, would have, must have → shoulda, coulda, woulda, musta

You shoulda told me!

I coulda won the game.

I woulda helped if I knew.

She musta been tired.

• Let me, give me → lemme, gimme

Gimme the phone right now.

Lemme know when you're free.

• Kind of, sort of → kinda, sorta

I kinda don't wanna do that.

He told me that he sorta likes her.

Contractions Grammar Rules

After looking at the list of contraction words, you can notice that they follow specific patterns. However, to understand how to use them properly, you need to know some grammar rules regarding the contraction list.

• Don't overuse contractions in formal writing. 

Pay attention to context and avoid using too colloquial contractions. Check out these examples and notice how using words from the contractions list changes the formality level.

I will not be able to attend the meeting because I have a prior engagement.

I won't be able to make it 'cause I gotta take care of something else. Lemme know if anything important comes up.

• Don't mix contractions with possessives. 

Take a look at these examples:

The woman's waiting for her coffee. (a contraction of "the woman is waiting")

The woman's coffee is ready. (possessive form that shows ownership.)

While both sentences start the same, only one has a word from the contractions list. When you see a word with an "‘s" ending, be aware of the context to find out whether it's a contraction or possessive.

• Don't mix contractions with possessive pronouns. 

They sound the same and sometimes are written similarly but carry different meanings. For example:

It's a dog kennel. (contraction of "It is")

The dog is in its kennel. (possessive pronoun)

They're in the car. (contraction of "They are")

Their car is outside. (possessive pronoun)

Tips: If there's an apostrophe, it's an example from the contraction word list. If there's not – it's the possessive pronoun.

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Examples of Contractions in Sentences

To better understand how they are used in English, here are some contractions list examples in sentences:

Using Contractions in Formal vs. Informal Writing

Another thing you need to know is that while contractions are commonly used in informal writing and speech, they are not appropriate for formal writing. In more official writing, such as business letters or academic papers, it's essential to use full words and avoid contractions.

Why should you avoid the list of English contraction words in formal writing? Using them in formal communication can make your writing appear less professional and may negatively impact your credibility. Therefore, always be aware of the context and formality level, and reduce the number of words from a list of contractions if you're not sure it's appropriate to use them.

Contractions to Avoid in Formal Writing

Some contractions, like those with auxiliary verbs, are acceptable in formal writing. This means it's okay to use a few "isn'ts" or "don'ts" occasionally. However, there are also many contractions words list examples you should avoid. Take a look at these examples.

• Ain't (am not, is not, are not, has not, have not)

Don't: She ain't going to the meeting.

Do: She will not be able to attend the meeting.

• Gonna (going to)

Don't: Gonna be there.

Do: I am going to be there.

• Wanna (want to)

Don't: I wanna let you know that…

Do: I would like to / want to let you know that…

• Gimme (give me)

Don't: Gimme the details about the report.

Do: Give me the details about the report.

• Lemme (let me)

Don't: Lemme help you.

Do: Let me help you.

Summary

In English grammar, contractions are used to combine two words into one. A list of contractions words is commonly used in informal writing and speech, with some exceptions allowed in formal writing.

By using contractions, you can make your sentences more concise, natural-sounding, and easier to say. Practice them in your everyday life, and you'll quickly become comfortable with this simplified way of saying things!