Useful List of Informal Contractions in English

Informal contractions are shortened forms of words or phrases commonly used in spoken English, but less often in formal written English. They are usually created by combining two words and omitting one or more letters.

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What is A Contraction?

A contraction is a shortened form of a word or words that combine to make a single, more concise word. Contractions are often used in spoken and written language to make communication faster and easier. Contractions are created by combining two words and removing one or more letters, often by combining an auxiliary verb with a pronoun, noun, or adverb. For example, “I am” can be contracted to “I’m,” and “you are” can be contracted to “you’re.” In written English, contractions are typically indicated by an apostrophe, which marks the missing letters. Contractions can be either formal or informal, and the choice of which to use depends on the context and audience.

List of Informal Contractions

Here is a list of common informal contractions used in spoken English:

I’m (I am)
Don’t (Do not)
Can’t (Can not)
Won’t (Will not)
Ain’t (Am not, is not, are not, has not, have not)
Gonna (Going to)
Should’ve (Should have)
Could’ve (Could have)
Wanna (Want to)
Would’ve (Would have)
Ya (You)
‘ll (will)
‘d (would)
‘ve (have)
‘s (is, has)
Let’s (let us)
It’s (it is)
I’ll (I will)
You’ll (you will)
He’ll (He will)
She’ll (She will)
They’ll (They will)
We’ll (We will)
I’d (I would)
You’d (You would)
He’d (He would)
She’d (She would)
They’d (They would)
We’d (We would)
I’ve (I have)
You’ve (You have)
He’s (He has)
She’s (She has)
They’ve (They have)
We’ve (We have)

It’s worth noting that these contractions are more common in spoken language, they are less frequent in formal writing, and should be used with caution in professional or academic settings.

Examples of Informal Contractions

Contractions Formed from Auxiliary Verbs

Contractions formed from auxiliary verbs are a common type of contraction in English. Here are some examples:

“I am” becomes “I’m”
“You are” becomes “You’re”
“He is” becomes “He’s”
“She is” becomes “She’s”
“It is” becomes “It’s”
“We are” becomes “We’re”
“They are” becomes “They’re”
“Will not” becomes “won’t”
“Shall not” becomes “shan’t”
“Have not” becomes “haven’t”

Contractions Formed from Negation

Contractions formed from negation are another common type of contraction in English. Here are some examples:

“Do not” becomes “don’t”
“Does not” becomes “doesn’t”
“Did not” becomes “didn’t”
“Is not” becomes “isn’t”
“Are not” becomes “aren’t”
“Has not” becomes “hasn’t”
“Have not” becomes “haven’t”
“Had not” becomes “hadn’t”
“Will not” becomes “won’t”
“Shall not” becomes “shan’t”

Contractions Formed from Prepositions

Contractions formed from prepositions are another common type of contraction in English. Here are some examples:

“I will” becomes “I’ll”
“He would” becomes “He’d”
“She would” becomes “She’d”
“We will” becomes “We’ll”
“They would” becomes “They’d”
“I have” becomes “I’ve”
“You have” becomes “You’ve”
“He has” becomes “He’s”
“She has” becomes “She’s”
“It has” becomes “It’s”

Contractions Formed from Pronouns

Contractions formed from pronouns are another common type of contraction in English. Here are some examples:

“I am” becomes “I’m”
“You are” becomes “You’re”
“He is” becomes “He’s”
“She is” becomes “She’s”
“It is” becomes “It’s”
“We are” becomes “We’re”
“They are” becomes “They’re”
“I will” becomes “I’ll”
“He would” becomes “He’d”
“She would” becomes “She’d”

How to Use Informal Contractions

Here are some tips for using these contractions in English:

Know the context: Informal contractions are generally used in casual, informal situations such as conversations with friends, family, or close colleagues. Avoid using informal contractions in more formal settings such as academic writing, professional correspondence, or business meetings.
Know your audience: When speaking with people you are less familiar with, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid using too many contractions.
Use them naturally: Informal contractions should sound natural and not forced in speech. Use contractions that come naturally to you and don’t try to use them just for the sake of it.
Avoid overusing contractions: Overusing contractions can make speech sound informal and unprofessional. Use a balanced mix of contractions and full forms to maintain a natural flow of speech.
Practice speaking: To get comfortable using informal contractions, practice speaking with friends or family members in casual conversations. This will help you develop a natural feel for using contractions in everyday speech.