THE ENGLISH APOSTROPHE ( ' )-2
07 / 06 / 2004
THE ENGLISH APOSTROPHE ( ' )-2: meaning and examples
Good morning. I hope you enjoyed your weekend.
In all languages we contract our words when we speak; however, only some languages allow written contractions. In Spanish there are two contractions: DE-EL = DEL and A-EL = AL. In Catalan there are a lot more contractions (for example, with pronoms febles).
On Friday we looked at the apostrophe-s ('s) with possession. (This apostrophe-s looks like a contraction, but it isn't.) Today we'll look at contractions with the verb BE.
In theory this is a basic topic, but even Upper Intermediate and Advanced students are still sometimes confused about contractions and the apostrophe-s, so continue reading even if you are advanced.
Contractions with the verb BE
1) The different forms of the verb BE (am, is, are) optionally contract with the subject pronouns in written English (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they):
I AM = I'M
YOU ARE = YOU'RE
HE IS = HE'S
SHE IS = SHE'S
IT IS = IT'S
WE ARE = WE'RE
THEY ARE = THEY'RE
2) The different forms of the verb BE can also contract with:
a) Proper Names: Rachel is from Canada --> Rachel's from Canada.
b) Other Nouns: Her name is Rachel. --> Her name's Rachel.
c) Question Words: Where is Rachel from? --> Where's Rachel from?
d) The demonstrative pronoun "that": That is Rachel. --> That's Rachel.
e) The negative word "NOT": Rachel is not from the United States. --> Rachel isn't from the United States.
When the negative verb marker not is present we usually have a choice to contract the form of the verb BE with not, as in example (e), or we can leave it non-contracted and make the contraction with the verb BE and the word that precedes it. So, sentence (e) could also be:
(f) Rachel is not from the United States. --> Rachel's not from the United States.
Tomorrow we will (or we'll) look at contractions with the auxiliaries DO and HAVE.
If you have questions about the use of contractions with the verb BE, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes,
In all languages we contract our words when we speak; however, only some languages allow written contractions. In Spanish there are two contractions: DE-EL = DEL and A-EL = AL. In Catalan there are a lot more contractions (for example, with pronoms febles).
On Friday we looked at the apostrophe-s ('s) with possession. (This apostrophe-s looks like a contraction, but it isn't.) Today we'll look at contractions with the verb BE.
In theory this is a basic topic, but even Upper Intermediate and Advanced students are still sometimes confused about contractions and the apostrophe-s, so continue reading even if you are advanced.
Contractions with the verb BE
1) The different forms of the verb BE (am, is, are) optionally contract with the subject pronouns in written English (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they):
I AM = I'M
YOU ARE = YOU'RE
HE IS = HE'S
SHE IS = SHE'S
IT IS = IT'S
WE ARE = WE'RE
THEY ARE = THEY'RE
2) The different forms of the verb BE can also contract with:
a) Proper Names: Rachel is from Canada --> Rachel's from Canada.
b) Other Nouns: Her name is Rachel. --> Her name's Rachel.
c) Question Words: Where is Rachel from? --> Where's Rachel from?
d) The demonstrative pronoun "that": That is Rachel. --> That's Rachel.
e) The negative word "NOT": Rachel is not from the United States. --> Rachel isn't from the United States.
When the negative verb marker not is present we usually have a choice to contract the form of the verb BE with not, as in example (e), or we can leave it non-contracted and make the contraction with the verb BE and the word that precedes it. So, sentence (e) could also be:
(f) Rachel is not from the United States. --> Rachel's not from the United States.
Tomorrow we will (or we'll) look at contractions with the auxiliaries DO and HAVE.
If you have questions about the use of contractions with the verb BE, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes,
