English Contractions - Improve Your Pronunciation of Contractions in English

Summary

This lesson from Oxford Online English explains the pronunciation and use of contractions in English. It covers common contractions like 'he’s', 'they’ll', and 'don’t', explaining how to form and pronounce them based on surrounding sounds. The lesson provides practical examples, emphasizing differences in spoken and written usage, as well as formal and informal contexts. Special focus is given to fast, natural speech and tricky contractions like 'won’t'. It also highlights when contractions should be avoided, especially in formal writing or when emphasizing statements.

Takeaways

• 📚 Contractions involve combining two words into one shorter form (e.g., He is --> He's).
• 🔡 Words that commonly form contractions include: am, are, is, will, would, have, has, and had.
• 👂 Pronunciation of contractions can vary based on how fast you're speaking—slower speech sounds clearer, while faster speech sounds more natural.
• 🎯 Some contractions (like 'll and 'm) never change their pronunciation, while others (like would, have, and had) can change based on the sounds before or after them.
• 🗣️ The 'd contraction is used for both would and had, but its pronunciation varies depending on the sound before it.
• 📌 Contractions like ‘s (is/has) can sound different depending on the consonant or vowel sound before them (e.g., he’s, it’s).
• ❌ Negative contractions (e.g., don't, won't, can't) combine auxiliary verbs and 'not'—note that 'will not' becomes 'won't'.
• 📝 Contractions should be avoided in formal writing but are common in spoken English and informal writing.
• 🔍 Some contractions, such as they’d’ve (they would have), are more common in speech and rarely appear in writing.
• 💡 When answering yes/no questions, avoid using positive contractions at the end of a sentence (e.g., Yes, he is, not Yes, he's), but negative contractions are fine.

Q & A

What are contractions in English?

Contractions are when two words are combined to make one word shorter, such as 'He is' becoming 'He’s' or 'Do not' becoming 'Don’t.'

Which words can form contractions in English?

Words that can form contractions include: am, are, is, will, would, have, has, and had.

How do contractions affect the pronunciation of a sentence?

Contractions can change the pronunciation of a sentence, often making it faster and more natural. Without contractions, sentences can sound robotic and unnatural.

Why are contractions of 'will' often difficult for learners to pronounce?

Contractions with 'will' (e.g., 'They’ll') can be difficult because of the combination of vowel and consonant sounds. Practicing the pronunciation of 'll' by sliding the tongue forward can help.

What happens to the pronunciation of 'have,' 'would,' and 'had' in contractions?

The pronunciation of 'have,' 'would,' and 'had' changes based on the sound before the contraction. After a vowel, 'have' becomes /v/ (e.g., 'I’ve'). After a consonant, it becomes /əv/ (e.g., 'could’ve'). Similar rules apply for 'would' and 'had.'

What is unique about the contraction of 'will' and 'am'?

'Will' is always contracted as 'll,' and 'am' is always contracted as 'm.' These contractions never change based on surrounding sounds.

How does the pronunciation of 'is' and 'has' change in contractions?

The contraction of 'is' or 'has' is pronounced as /z/ after most sounds (e.g., 'he’s') but as /s/ after sounds like /t/, /p/, /k/, /f/, or /θ/ (e.g., 'it’s').

What are negative contractions, and how do they work?

Negative contractions are formed by combining an auxiliary verb with 'not,' such as 'do not' becoming 'don’t' and 'have not' becoming 'haven’t.' However, 'will not' contracts to 'won’t,' and 'am not' has no contraction.

When should contractions be used in spoken and written English?

Contractions are generally used in spoken English to sound more natural. In writing, they can be used in informal contexts but should be avoided in formal writing like essays. Certain contractions used in speech are not common in writing.

Are there cases where contractions should not be used?

Contractions should not be used in formal situations, when emphasizing a verb or negative, or at the end of a sentence. For example, 'Yes, he’s' is incorrect, but 'No, he isn’t' is fine.