Pronunciation insight 9

Use of contractions

We often use contractions in conversation and in informal writing, like emails and letters to friends. We do not use them in formal letters.

1Read the rules about contractions and complete the examples. Play the recording, listen and check your answers. Then listen again and repeat. 

• ■We often contract the forms of be, have and will after pronouns.

  I ¹ tired.

  They ² been ill.

  We ³ call you tonight.

  ■After names, nouns, question words and indefinite pronouns, we can only use the contraction 's.

  Lucy ⁴ gone out.

  My sister ⁵ studying.

  What ⁶ the time?

  Somebody ⁷ coming.

  ■We often use contractions with not, especially in question tags.

  He lives abroad, ⁸ he?

  You've seen the film, ⁹ you?

  ■We can't contract am not. In question tags, we use aren't instead.

  I'm late, ¹⁰ I?

  ■We do not use contractions in affirmative short answers or in positive question tags.

  AAre you Dutch?

  BYes, I ¹¹ .

  AHe isn't here, ¹² he?

  BNo, he left.

2Rewrite seven of the sentences using contractions. In which sentences is it not possible to use contractions? Why? 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task. You also need to use correct punctuation.

• 1It will be a disaster.

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 2They are not coming, are they?

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 3Everyone is complaining about the food.

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 4A Have you finished?  B Yes, I have.

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 5I am wrong, am I not?

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 6The head teacher is going to talk to us.

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 7Where are your books?

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 8They will be late, will they not?

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 9You did not use to have short hair, did you?

  Not PossiblePossible 

• 10Ella would like to go swimming.

  Not PossiblePossible 

From the sentences above, it is not possible to use contractions in the following sentences (in the numerical order):

  Because we don't use contractions in questions and short answers.Because we only use contractions with question word + is.Because we only use contractions with names + is.

  Because we don't use contractions in questions and short answers.Because we only use contractions with question word + is.Because we only use contractions with names + is.

  Because we don't use contractions in questions and short answers.Because  we only use contractions with question word + is.Because we only use contractions with names + is.

3Play the recording, listen and check your answers to exercise 2. Then listen again and repeat the sentences.