A contraction is a shortened version of two words that were bumped together. When two words get bumped together into one word, letters get knocked out and an apostrophe (‘) takes the place of the missing letters.
We talked yesterday about contractions using the adverb not. When not gets put with a helping verb, the o goes away.
would not = wouldn’t
did not = didn’t
Contractions also form by joining a pronoun and a helping verb that is a form of the verb to be. When the words get bumped together, some of the letters in the helping verb get replaced by an apostrophe.
Contractions can be made with the helping verb will. The helping verbs in these contractions show future tense.
I will = I’ll
she will = she’ll
you will = you’ll
we will = we’ll
they will = they’ll
I will help you. I’ll help you.
She will be coming ’round the mountain. She’ll be coming ’round the mountain.
You will have to come visit me. You’ll have to come visit me.,
I promise we will be there. I promise we’ll be there.
My friends said they will be late. My friends said they’ll be late.
Contractions can be made with helping verbs am, is, or are. The helping verbs in these contractions show present tense.
I am = I’m
she is = she’s
you are = you’re
we are = we’re
they are = they’re
I am going to school. I’m going to school.
She is my teacher. She’s my teacher.
You are a good student. You’re a good student.
We are studying fossils. We’re studying fossils.
They are arriving in the afternoon. They’re arriving in the afternoon.
A contraction is made when two words are bumped together. Bumped-out letters are replaced with an apostrophe (‘). Contractions can be made with the helping verbs will, is, are, and am. The contraction is used the same and has the same meaning as the two words.