Forming contractions (aren't, can't, I'd, you're, etc.)
Contractions ending in -n't are often used in spoken and written English, but they are not always easy to understand! Here are some very common contractions:
Aren't, contraction of are not
Can't, contraction of cannot (note: 'Cannot' is always written as one word)
Hadn't, contraction of had not
Wasn't, contraction of was not
Shouldn't, contraction of should not
Isn't, contraction of is not
Hasn't, contraction of has not
Doesn't, contraction of does not
Don't, contraction of do not
Mustn't, contraction of must not
Weren't, contraction of were not
Wouldn't, contraction of would not
Didn't, contraction of did not
The auxiliary verbs to be and will are frequently contracted:
I am
I'm
You are
You're
He/She/It is
He/She/It's
We are
We're
You are
You're
They are
They're
I will
I'll
You will
You'll
He/She/It will
He/She/It'll
We will
We'll
You will
You'll
They will
They'll
Note: Some contractions are irregular:
Shan't, contraction of shall not (rarely used)
Won't, contraction of will not
Note: Not all negative constructions are contracted with the form -n't:
I am not a liar becomes I'm not a liar
Note that in slang, I am not can also be contracted to I ain't.
Note that in slang, I am not can also be contracted to I ain't.
I may not arrive on time ('May not' cannot be contracted)
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