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Free PDF Worksheet

Contractions
Dear English Learner,

Get ready to speak confidently! I recommend reading the worksheet out loud and using the
blank space on the last page to answer my challenge question. Click here to watch the original
video. Thanks so much for learning English with me!

Your teacher,
Vanessa

81 Contractions in American English

* means “usually only in spoken English”

Aren’t = are + not

Can’t = can + not

Could’ve = could + have

Couldn’t = could + not

Didn’t = did + not

Doesn’t = does + not

Don’t = do + not

Hadn’t = had + not

Hasn’t = has + not

Haven’t = have + not

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He’d = he + would

He’ll = he + will

He’s = he + is

How’d = how + did/would

*How’ll = how + will

How’s = how + is

I’d = I + did/would

I’ll = I + will

I’m = I + am

I’ve = I + have

Isn’t = is + not

It’d = it + would

It’ll = it + will

It’s = it + is

Let’s = let + us

*May’ve = may + have

*Might’ve = might + have

*Mustn’t = must + not

*Must’ve = must + have

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She’d = she + would

She’ll = she + will

She’s = she + is

Should’ve = should + have

Shouldn’t = should + not

That’ll = that + will

That’s = that + is

That’d = that + would

There’re = there + are

There’s = there + is

*These’re = these + are

They’d = they + would

They’ll = they + will

They’re = they + are

They’ve = they + have

*This’s = this + is

*Those’re = those + are

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Wasn’t = was + not

We’d = we + would

*We’d’ve = we + would + have

We’ll = we + will

We’re = we + are

We’ve = we + have

Weren’t = were + not

*What’d = what + did

*What’ll = what + will

*What’re = what + are

What’s = what + is

*What’ve = what + have

When’s = when + is

*Where’d = where + did

*Where’re = where + are

Where’s = where + is

*Where’ve = where + have

Which’s = which + is

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Who’d = who + did

*Who’d’ve = who + would + have

Who’ll = who + will

*Who’re = who + are

Who’s = who + is

*Who’ve = who + have

*Why’d = why + did/would

*Why’re = why + are

*Why’s = why + is

Won’t = will + not

Would’ve = would + have

Wouldn’t = would + not

You’d = you + would

You’ll = you + will

You’re = you + are

You’ve = you + have

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 How to Pronounce Negative Contractions

Rule 1: Add a schwa sound between the verb and “not”

Is/Isn’t
My cat is playing.
My cat isn’t playing.
ISN’T = IZuN’__

Was/Wasn’t
My cat was playing.
My cat wasn’t playing.
WASN’T = WAZuN’__

Have/Haven’t
My cats have played.
My cats haven’t played.
HAVEN’T = HAVuN’__

Has/Hasn’t
My cat has played.
My cats hasn’t played.
HASN’T = HAZuN’__

Had/Hadn’t
My cat had played.
My cats hadn’t played.
HADN’T = HADuN’__

Does/Doesn’t
My cats does play often.
My cats doesn’t play often.
DOESN’T = DUZuN’__

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Did/Didn’t
My cats did play.
My cats didn’t play.
DIDN’T = DI’uN’__

Could/Couldn’t
My cats could play.
My cats couldn’t play.
COULDN’T = COULDuN’__

Would/Wouldn’t
My cats would play.
My cats wouldn’t play.
WOULDN’T = WOULDuN’__

Should/Shouldn’t
My cats should play.
My cats shouldn’t play.
SHOULDN’T = SHOULDuN’__

Rule 2: Only a “Stopped T” at the end

Are/Aren’t
My cats are playing.
My cats aren’t playing.
AREN’T = AREN’__

Were/Weren’t
My cats were playing.
My cats weren’t playing.
WEREN’T = WEREN’__

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Do/Don’t
My cats do play.
My cats don’t play.
DON’T = DON’__

Can/Can’t
My cats can play.
My cats can’t play.
CAN’T = CAN’__

Will/Won’t
My cats will play.
My cats won’t play.
WON’T = WON’__

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 ​Vanessa’s Challenge Question

Using at least 3 contractions from the lesson, use the space below to write a few
sentences answering this question: What would you have done if someone gave you
one million dollars ten years ago?

Sample answer: If someone would’ve given me a million dollars ten years ago, I
probably could’ve spent it all by now. I wasn’t as responsible with money then as I am
now, and I might’ve spent it all on meaningless material things instead of really enjoying
it and using it to help people.

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