Short Forms

Short Forms

   February 26, 2019       barkha verma

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Short Forms  (He's/I' d/Don't etc.)

1.  In spoken English, we usually pronounce 'I am' as one word. the short form (I'm) is a way of writing this:

I am           = I'm     
It is            = it's       
they have  = they've 

• I'm feeling tired this morning
• 'do you like this jacket?'   'yes, it's very nice'
• 'where are your friends?'  They've gone home.

When we write short forms, we use' (an apostrophe):

I am          = I'm
He is         = he's
you have   = you've
she will     = she'll

2.  We use these forms with I/he/she etc.

am     = 'm
is       = 's
are     ='re
have  = 've
has    = 's
had    = 'd
will    = 'll
would = 'd

• I've got some new shoes.
• We'll probably go out this evening.
• It's at 10 O'clock. you're late again

s' = is or has:

•  She's going out this evening. (she's going = she is going)
•  She's going out. (she's gone = she has gone)

'd = would or had:

• A: what would you like to eat?
• B: I'd like a salad, please. (I'd like = I would like)
• I told the police that I'd lost my passport. (I'd lost = I had lost)

Do not use 'm/'s/'d etc. at the end of a sentences 

• 'Are you tired?'   'yes, I am.'

3.  We use short forms with I/you/he/she etc. but you can use short forms (especially's) with other words too:

• Who's your favourite singer? (=who is)
• what's the time?
• there's a big tree in the garden.
• my sister's working in London.
• paul's gone out.
• what colour's your car?

4.  Negative Short forms

isn't = is not

aren't = are not

wasn't = was not

weren't = were not

hasn't = has not

haven't = have not

hadn't = had not

don't  = do not

doesn't = does not

didn't  = did not

can't = cannot

couldn't = could not

won't = will not

wouldn't = would not

shouldn't = should not

mustn't = must not

needn't = need not

• We went to her house but she wasn't at home
• 'where's David?'  'I don't know. i haven't seen him.
• you work all the time. you shouldn't work so hard.
• I won't be here tomorrow. 

5.  s' (apostrophe + s)  's  can mean different things.

'S = (is or has)
Let's  = (lets the weather is nice. let's go out.)

Ann's camera =  (her camera / my brother's car (= his car) / the manager's office 9his/her office.)

Compare:

• Ann's camera was very expensive. (Ann's camera = her camera)
• Ann's a very good photographer. (Ann's = Ann is)
• Ann's got a new camera. (Ann's got = Ann has got)