List of Contractions: 70+ Most Important Contractions in English

List of Contractions in English! In this lesson, we will learn the contraction definition and list of commonly used contractions in English.

Contraction Definition

Contraction definition: Contractions in English are words or phrases that are shortened by dropping one or more letters and replacing the letter or letters with an apostrophe (‘). Contractions are used in speech and in informal writing

Contractions examples: 

• He’d been matriculated in the university.
• What’s your name?
• Yes, please, I’d love a coffee.
• I think that we’ll live together forever.
• I never doubted you, I was sure you’d bring me the money.
• He is a writer who’s often been criticized by the press but never before with such vitriol.

List of Contractions in English

Here is an important list of contractions ESL students should study.

Would

• I would = I’d
• You would = You’d
• He would = He’d
• She would = She’d
• It would = It’d
• We would = We’d
• They would = They’d
• That would = That’d
• These would = These’d
• There would = There’d
• Who would = Who’d
• What would = What’d
• Where would = Where’d
• When would = When’d
• Why would = Why’d
• How would = How’d

Be

• You are = You’re
• He is = He’s
• She is = She’s
• It is = It’s
• We are = We’re
• They are = They’re
• That is = That’s
• These are = These’re
• There is = There’s
• Who is = Who’s
• What are = What’re
• Where is = Where’s
• When is = When’s
• Why is = Why’s
• How are = How’re

Have/ Has

• I have = I’ve
• You have = You’ve
• He has = He’s
• She has = She’s
• It has = It’s
• We have = We’ve
• They have = They’ve
• That has = That’s
• These have = These’ve
• There has = There’s
• Who has = Who’s
• What have = What’ve
• Where has = Where’s
• Why has = Why’s
• How have = How’ve

Had

• I had = I’d
• You had = You’d
• He had = He’d
• She had = She’d
• It had = It’d
• We had = We’d
• They had = They’d
• That had = That’d
• These had = These’d
• There had = There’d
• Who had = Who’d
• What had = What’d
• Where had = Where’d
• Why had = Why’d
• How had = How’d

Will

• I will = I’ll
• You will = You’ll
• He will = He’ll
• She will = She’ll
• It will = It’ll
• We will = We’ll
• They will = They’ll
• That will = That’ll
• These will = These’ll
• There will = There’ll
• Who will = Who’ll
• What will = What’ll
• Where will = Where’ll
• When will = When’ll
• Why will = Why’ll
• How will = How’ll

Important Contractions in English | Infographic

Useful List of Contractions in English