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Appendix 4
Short forms (he's / I'd / don't etc.)
In spoken English we usually p ro no unce 'I am' as one word. The short form (I'm) is a way o f w riting
this:
I am —> I'm o
it is —> it's o
they have - 4 they've o
etc.
W hen we w rite sho rt form s, we u se ' (a n a p o st r o p h e):
IX m —H 'm h e ^ - ^ h e 's you M ve —» yo u've she M il - 4 she'll
am -> 'm I'm
is - > 's he's she's it's
are —> 're we're you're they're
have —> 've I've we've you've they've
has - > 's he's she's it's
had 'd I'd he'd she'd we'd you'd they'd
will - » 'II I'll he'll she'll we'll you'll they'll
w o uld - > 'd I'd he'd she'd we'd you'd they'd
O
I've got som e new shoes.
O W e'll probably go o ut this evening.
O
's = is o r has:
It's 10 o'clock. Yo u're late again.
O She's going o ut this evening, (she's going = she is going)
O She's gone out. (she's gone = she has gone)
'd = w ould o r had:
O a : W h at w ould you like to eat?
b: I'd like a salad please. (I'd like = I w ould like)
O I told the police that I'd lost m y passport. (I'd lost = I had lost)
Do not use 'm/ 's/ 'd etc. at the end o f a sentence (—» Unit 40):
O 'Are you tired?' 'Yes, I am.' (n o t Yes, I'm.)
O She isn't tired, but he is. (n o t he's)
c > W e use short form s w ith l/ you/ he/ she etc., but you can use short fo rm s (esp ecially's) w ith other
word s too:
O W ho's yo ur favourite singer? (= w ho is)
O W hat's the tim e? (= w hat is)
O There's a big tree in the garden. (= there is)
O M y sister's working in London. (= m y sister is w o rking )
O
Paul's gone out. (= Paul has gone o ut)
O W hat colour's yo ur car? (= W h at co lo ur is yo ur car?)
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