4.1 In spoken English
We usually pronounce 'I am' as one word. The short form ('I'm) is a way of writing this:
I am → I'm feeling tired this morning.
it is → it's very nice.
they have → they've gone home.
Where are your friends? → Where've your friends gone?
When we write short forms, we use ' (an apostrophe):
I am → I'm
he is → he's
you have → you've
she will → she'll
4.2 We use these forms with I/he/she etc.:
|
I |
he |
she |
it |
we |
you |
they |
| am |
I'm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| is |
|
he's |
she's |
it's |
|
|
|
| are |
|
|
|
|
we're |
you're |
they're |
| have |
I've |
he's |
she's |
it's |
we've |
you've |
they've |
| has |
|
he's |
she's |
it's |
|
|
|
| had |
I'd |
he'd |
she'd |
it'd |
we'd |
you'd |
they'd |
| will |
I'll |
he'll |
she'll |
it'll |
we'll |
you'll |
they'll |
| would |
I'd |
he'd |
she'd |
it'd |
we'd |
you'd |
they'd |
I've got some new shoes.
We'll probably go out this evening.
It's 10 o'clock. You're late again.
's = is or has:
She's going out this evening. (she is going = she is going)
She's gone out. (she has gone = she has gone)
'd = would or had:
A: What would you like to eat?
B: I'd like a salad, please. (I would like = I would like)
I told the police that I'd lost my passport. (I had lost = I had lost)
Do not use 'm / 's / 'd etc. at the end of a sentence (→ Unit 39):
"Are you tired?" "Yes, I am." (not Yes, I'm.)
4.3 We use short forms with I/you/he/she etc. but you can use short forms (especially 's) with other words too:
Who's your favourite singer? (= who is)
What's the time? (= what is)
There's a big tree in the garden. (= there is)
My sister's working in London. (= my sister is working)
Paul's gone out. (= Paul has gone out)
What colour's your car? (= What colour is your car?)
4.4 Negative short forms (→ Unit 42)
| isn't (= is not) |
don't (= do not) |
can't (= cannot) |
| aren't (= are not) |
doesn't (= does not) |
couldn't (= could not) |
| wasn't (= was not) |
didn't (= did not) |
won't (= will not) |
| weren't (= were not) |
|
wouldn't (= would not) |
| hasn't (= has not) |
|
shouldn't (= should not) |
| haven't (= have not) |
|
mustn't (= must not) |
| hadn't (= had not) |
|
needn't (= need not) |
We went to her house but she wasn't at home.
"Where's David?" "I don't know. I haven't seen him."
You work all the time. You shouldn't work so hard.
I won't be here tomorrow. (= I will not)
4.5 's (apostrophe + s)
's can mean different things:
- 's = is or has (→ section 4.2 of this appendix)
- let's = let us (→ Unit 52)
- The weather is nice. Let's go out. (= Let us go out.)
- Ann's camera = her camera / my brother's car (= his car) / the manager's office etc. (→ Unit 63)
- Ann's camera was very expensive. (Ann's camera = her camera)
- Ann's a very good photographer. (Ann's = Ann is)
- Ann's got a new camera. (Ann's got = Ann has got)