Contractions and

Idiomatic Expression
(Continuation of Colloquialism and Slang
Language)
 Contractions
• It is a shortened form of a group of
words.
• This can be used in both written and
oral communication.
• When a contraction is written in
English, the omitted letters are
replaced by an apostrophe.
 Examples:
• Aren’t – are not • What’s – what
• Haven’t – have is/has
not • They’ll – they will
• I’d – I had, I • You’ve – you have
would • Who’ve – who
• Mightn’t – might have
not
• Shan’t – shall not
 Example sentences:

• It’s really nice outside

today.
• That’s great! You did
well.
 Idiomatic Expression
• It is an expression, word,
phrase that has figurative
meaning conventionally
understood by native speakers.
• Idioms don’t mean exactly what
the words say.
 Examples:
• A fact of life
– This idiom is used to refer to
something which is unpleasant
– Example:
• Violence has become a fact of life
among teenagers these days.
• A life-saver
–Used to refer to someone that
saves a person in a critical
moment
–Example:
• Thank you so much for your help.
You’re a real lifesaver!
• A man of few words
–A man who doesn’t speak much.
A man of action.
–Example:
• He is a man of few words but when
he speaks, he makes a lot of sense.
• Achilles heel
– Said about a strong situation which
contains an element of vulnerability
– Example:
• Journalists considered that minister as
the government’s Achilles heel.