Coleccién Monogratias Tematicas Soronamnaminnnt its CONTRACTIONS Abelard Avendafio Zifiga ‘A contraction (or contracted form) is a shortened form of a word that is attached to another word, the two words being pronounced as one. For instance, they're for they are, isn't for is not, there's for there is, and so on. In written English the omitted letters are often replaced by an apostrophe. Contractions are of very frequent occurrence in spoken English; therefore, learners should lear to make use of them if their English is to sound natural. The most commonly used contractions are listed below under three headings: (1) PERSONAL PRONOUN + VERB, (2) VERB + NOT, and (3) OTHER COMMON CONTRACTIONS. A set of supplementary exercises has been appended at the end. PERSONAL PRONOUN + NB. The symbols i(:) and u(:) indicate that the usual (‘weak’) pronunciations are i and u, and the less usual (strong, stressed) pronunciations are i: and u:. Besides, (t) indicates that Ir! is pronounced only if a vowel sound follows directly; otherwise, it is omitted, e.g. /jo:(r)! és (jou in you're guilty, but (jor! in you're innocent. 1.1 Tam=TPm /ainy: I’m innocent /aim “mnosont! Ihave = [shall or will = 7° /ail/: I'll be back on Monday /ail bi ‘back on “mandey. ve /atv/: D've quite forgotten /arv kwart fo" got. Thad = I'd /aid/: I'd left when she retumed /ard ‘left wen Ji rr tand/ 1.5 [would = I'd /aid/: I'd like to thank you for your contribution /ard ‘lark ta ‘@zenk ju fo jot kontrr’bjusfn/. you're in the army, aren’t you? 1.6 You are= You're /jo(r)/: You're telling me /jo: ‘teluy ‘miy. {jor mi “arm | “ont jul 1.7 You have = You've /ju(:jv/: You've never tried your hardest /juv neva ‘raid jo: ‘ha:disv. 1.8 You will = You'll /ju()l/: You'll never sell us that idea /jul ‘neva ‘sel os “act ardioy.@ 19 1.10 4d 112 1.13 114 Lis 1.16 117 1.18 119 1.20 § 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 131 132 0 NaaoNNaD RAND You had = You'd /ju(:)d/: She told me you'd left when she returned /[i ‘tovld mi jud “left wen [i ntaind/. You would = You'd /ju(:)d/: I know you'd do it /ar naw jud “du: ww. He has = He's /hi(s He ‘He’s just arrived from New York /hiz'dgast ararvd from nju 'j He's /hi(})z/: He's a new member /hiz.o ‘nju: ‘membo/. He will = He'll /hi()I/: He'll certainly approve our plans /hil'sa:tnli sprury ot “plaenz/ He had = He'd /hi(:)d/: He'd already done it /hid's:lredi He would = He'd /hi()d/: He'd be given a warm welcome if he came back /hid bi 'grvn 2 ‘dan 1. ‘woum "welkom if i keim jbeek/. She She has = She’s /fi(:)z/: She’s been appointed production manager /fiz bis She's /i()z/: She’s the only woman on the staff /fiz 6i 'sunli ‘women on do “st apomntid pro‘dakjn mantdso. She will = She'll /fi( /: She'll come back next week /fil kam ‘back nekst “with \d/: She'd been there before /fid'bim deo br'ft he'd /Ji(:)d/: She'd do it if she could /fid ‘du: rt rf fi *kod/, It had = It'd /itad/: It'd started snowing before they got there /tted ‘sta:tid 'snauiy brfd: der “got dea/. Ithas = It’s /ts/: It’s been posted on the notice-board /sts bi: ‘paustid on do ‘novtsboxd It is=Te's /ts/: It’s a nuisance /rts 9 “njussns/. It wi IM /it/: 11 be an unforgettable event /rt] bi on anfe'getabl r'venv. It would = It'd. /tod/: It'd be better to wait until the evening /itad bi ‘beta to ‘wert ontil di ‘svn. We are = We're /wia(r)/: We're waiting for Ann /wra ‘wertiy for “aen/, we're on the move /wror on do “musv/. We have = We've /wi(:)v/: We've bought a flat in Isleworth /wiv'bott 2 flat in “aizlw316/. We shall or will = We'll /wi(2)/: We'll be taking off almost immediately /wil bi terkiy ‘of ‘o:lmaust r'misdiatli We had = We'd /wi(:jd/: We'd finished the show when she rang up /wid ‘fintst 09"Jou wen fi een “apy. ‘We would = We'd /wi )d/: We'd like to hear from you soon /wid ‘lark ta ‘hra from ju “sun. They are =They’re /0co(r)/: They're foreign students, aren't they /eo ‘foron ‘stju:dnts | “aint Oer/, they're over there /Oear auva “deal. They have = They’ve /derv/: They've finally got down to brass tacks /derv ‘fainoli got ‘daun to brass “tacks.Coleccién Monogratias Tematicas z re a 217 2.18 2.19 They will = They'll /derl/: They'll eventually find a cure for coronary heart disease oer! ‘ventfuali‘fand a 'kjua fo ‘koranari “hast drzizz/ ‘They had = They’d /erd/: They'd just taken off when the plane burst into flames /Oerd ‘dsast terkan of | wen do ‘plem ‘bast inta “flermz/ ‘They would = They'd /Oerd/: They'd buy a new house if they could afford it /Oeid ‘bar 9 'nju haus rf det kad a'ford 1 VeRB + NOT Are not = Aren't /a:nt/: They aren’t in fashion /Oer‘a:nt in “feefn/. Cannot = Can’t /ko:n/: I can’t understand /ar'kamt anda’ stend/. Could not = Couldn't /kudnt/: He couldn’t believe it /hi‘kudnt br liv 1. Dare not = Daren’t /deant/: | daren’t tell her /ar‘deant ‘tel 0 Did no Didn't didnt /: They didn’t pay for it (Ber ‘didnt “per foxr 1 Do not = Don’t /daunt/: We don’t want to fail /wi ‘daunt ‘wont to “fetl/. Does not = Doesn't /daznt/: She doesn’t know the answer /fi‘daznt ‘nav di ‘o:nso/ Had not = Hadn’t /hadnt/: They hadn't sent the parcel when I dropped in /®et‘haednt 'sent a ‘pass} wen ar dropt “mn/ Has not = Hasn’t /hweznt/: He hasn’t finished as yet /hi ‘haeznt ‘fintt az ‘jeu Have not = Haven't haevnt/: You haven’t handed in your essay /ju ‘haevnt ‘haendid in jor ese! Is not = Isn't /iznv/: It isn’t cheap at all /it'vant tfip oto May not = Mayn’t /meit/: It mayn’t be true, after all /1t'memnt bi ‘tru: a:ftar ‘o:) Might not = Mightn’t /martnt/: They mightn’t come /Oe1 ‘martnt “kam/ Must not = Mustn’t /masnt/: You mustn't let yourself be exasperated, my sweet ju ‘masnt let jorself “bi: rgzaesparertid mat swist. Need not = Needn’t / nt/: She needn’t go, need she? /fi'nisdnt “gow “ni:d fi Ought not to = Oughtn’t to /s:tnt ta: before vowels and finally ‘o:tnt tu/: He oughtn’t to be now ad’ vats! apathetic /hi‘o:int tabi: apo" Oettk/, she oughtn’t to ignore advice /fi's:tnt tu 1g! Shalll not Should not = Shouldn't /Judnt/: You shouldn’t be so sleepy /ju'Jodnt bi'sav “slicpi/ Shan’t /Jamnt/: We shan’t be coming tomorrow /wi faint bi kamu to’ morov. Was not = Wasn't /woznt/: I suppose she wasn’t too bad in that /ar'spouz fi'woznt “tu: baed m detColeccién Monogratias Teméticas pune 2.20 Were not = Weren't /waint/: You weren't exactly up with the lark, either {ju want 1gzaektli ‘ap wid 09 “lark | “ardor. Will not = Won't /wwount/: You'd better tell him he can or he won’t know /jud ‘beta tel m i “Kaen | o:r i waunt “nov. Would not = Wouldn’t /wodnt/: I'm afraid it wouldn’t work /atm a'freid 1t ‘wudnt ‘watk/ OTHER COMMON CONTRACTIONS Here is = Here’s /hioz/: Here’s something interesting /hraz sam@m “introstuy 3.2. How is = How’s /havz/: How’s life Phavz.‘latfl 3.3. That is=That’s /0xts/: That's not the question, really /daets not do "kwestfan rroli/ 3.4 That will = "That'll /oat)/: A fat lot of use that'll be /2 feet lot av juss “Owet] B/. 3.5 That would = That'd /Oatod/; That'd be the only requirement /dstad bi Oi ‘ounli i kwaromont/. 3.6 There ‘There’s /0az/: There’s one on the radiator /Ooz'wan on 09 “reidietta/ 3.7 What is = What's /wots/: What's your home address? wots ja: houm o'dres/. 3.8 What will = What'll ‘wotl/: What'll you do? /wotl ju ‘duy. 3.9 When is=When’s /wenz/: When’s he coming back /'wenz i kam "baek/. 3.10 Where is = Where’s /weoz/: Where's the telephone /weaz 00 ‘telsfoun! 3.11 Who has = Who’s /hu:z/: Who’s written this cheque out? “hu:z ‘itn dts “tfek avw/, 3.12. Who is = Who's /hu:z/: Who’s next, please? /‘hu:z “nekst pli: 3.13. Who will = Who'll /hu:l/: Who'll dust the furniture? Phu: ‘dast da *fa:nttf2/ 3.14. Who would = Who'd ‘/hu:d/; Who'd like to fly a reconnaissance mission? /‘hu:d ‘lank to ‘flat 9 m’konisns mifty. EXERCISES 1. Read the following sentences aloud, and then write out the contracted forms in full: a) I'm sure she’s coming tonight. b) It’s become widely accepted nowadays. c) We're spending our holidays in Rome. d) It’s time to close the shop. ans stars ct sil tn ndedaa demase) She’s wearing a beautiful blouse. £) They're all coming to the party 2) You're absolutely wonderful! h) I’ve got a lot of things to tell you. i) She'll arrive by the eight o’clock train. i) I'd have done it if 'd had the time. Read the following sentences aloud, and then write them out in full: a) I'll ring you up as soon as I'm free. b) She's quite sure she’s seen a ghost ©) You'd hardly believe it was possible. 4) They knew she'd been there. ¢) He's just joined the library £) It's been raining since Tuesday g) You're a stranger here. h) They'd do it if they could. i) He'd signed the house over to his daughter. J) We've got a new car. Insert the following contractions in the correct places: I'm, he'd, she'd, she’s, it'll it’s, we'll, we're, we've, you've, they'd, they're a) .... a very beautiful girl b)..... a stranger here myself. ¢) .«. be very pleased to attend the lecture. 4) .... decided not to go on her own long before I told her. e) I know .... the only chance I may get. 1) ... probably be sunny tomorrow morning. g) . be better off next year h) They rang up this morning to tell us... been appointed honorary members. i) We believe ....better tennis players than the Aussies. j) Journalists are nearly always right because .... the best informed people. ) .... go abroad if they could afford it thin talked too much and done very little.Colecclén Monogratias Tematicas Read out the following sentences, and then write the contracted forms: a) Tom has not done his homework yet. 'b) Debbie is not a regular offender. ¢) You ought not to neglect your parents. 4) We need not worry about it for the time being. ) That would be inconceivable. £) It will be sent off next week. g) I would not say that. h) Still, one must not grumble. {) You would never have heard it ten years ago! j) They had not seen each other for a long time. Write the contracted forms of the words below, and then transcribe them: Eg. Itwould= I'd /tad/. a) We had = b) Dare not = c) Might not = 4) What will = €) Shall not = £) When i g) Were not = i) How is = ) Are not = Transcribe the following sentences phonemically: a) There's plenty of room. I! I b) I don’t see any wine, she remarkedColeccién Monogratias Temélicas : ® ¢) Then it wasn’t very civil of you to sit down. d) I didn’t know it was your table. ¢) He'd been put in his place. f) Yes, that’s quite nice. g) Thanks, I'll take those then. h) No, I'm afraid we're out of Cross pens just at present, i) Oh very well, that'll do. i) L was afraid it'd be too short notice for you. k) only hope you won't feel this has been a waste of your time, when you've heard what it's all about.Coleccién Monogratias Tematicas REFERENCES Chalker, S., & W University Press. er, E. (1994). The Oxford dictionary of English grammar. Oxford: Oxford Crowther, J. (ed.) (1995). Oxford advanced learner's dictionary (Sth ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Lewis, J. W. (1977). People speaking. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Palmer, H. E., & Blandford, F. G. (1969). A grammar of spoken English (3rd. ed.). Cambridge: W. Hefifer & Sons Ltd. Spencer, D. H. (1967). Contracted forms. London: Longmans, Green and Co Ltd. Summers, D. (ed.) (1993). Longman dictionary of English language and culture. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK Limited. Wells, J. C. (1990). Longman pronunciation dictionary. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK Limited,