Listen and look at the spellings of the weak forms. These weak forms written with an ' apostrophe are called contractions.
full / strong form
contraction / weak form
is
's
is not
isn't
Contractions show the way we normally speak. In the sentence It'sraining again!, the most important word is raining; the word is isunstressed and we use the contraction it's. But in the sentence Yes, itis!, the word is is the most important word, and we use the full form,not the contraction.
Listen and look at the spellings of the weak forms.
full / strong form
contraction / weak form
are
're
In the sentence They're here!, the most important word is here, andThey're is unstressed and contracted to /ðe∂/ or /ð∂/. But in thesentence They are, the most important word is are, so we use the fullform, not the contraction. Note: We use the contraction 's for is or has. It's raining, 's = is Where's he gone? 's = has
Here are some other common contractions.
full / strong form
contraction / weak form
cannot
can't
have
've
had / would
'd
full / strong form
contraction / weak form
I am
I'm
let us
let's
will
'll
We use these contractions in many types of informal writing, as well as in speech.
Important for listening! In some types of texts, like cartoons and pop songs, you can find other contractions, like these. Listen. 1 One of these days I'm gonna leave this town. 2 I just wanna have a good time. 3 Nice place, this, innit? 4 A: Why dontcha wanna come with us? B: 'Cos I hate shopping! 5 Rock 'n' roll will never die. 6 Tell 'im to come now! 7 A: Can you see "em? B: Not yet.
going to gonna and 'n' want towannathem 'em isn't it? innit him 'im don't you?dontcha do youd'you because'cos