Contractions are shortened forms of two words combined with an apostrophe. Native English speakers use contractions constantly in everyday speech - if you don't use them, you'll sound formal or robotic. This guide teaches you exactly how to pronounce the most common contractions.
Why Contractions Matter
Consider these two sentences:
- "I am going to the store. I will buy some milk." (formal, unnatural)
- "I'm going to the store. I'll buy some milk." (natural, conversational)
The second version is how native speakers actually talk. Learning contraction pronunciation is essential for both speaking naturally and understanding native speakers.
Subject + BE Contractions
These are the most common contractions in English:
I am → I'm
You are → You're
He is / She is / It is → He's / She's / It's
We are / They are → We're / They're
Subject + WILL Contractions
These express future actions:
Subject + HAVE Contractions
Used for perfect tenses:
Subject + WOULD/HAD Contractions
Note: These look the same but mean different things based on context:
Negative Contractions
These are essential for everyday conversation:
BE + NOT
DO + NOT
HAVE + NOT
MODAL + NOT
Tricky Contractions
Won't (will + not)
This is irregular - it doesn't follow the normal pattern. "Will not" becomes "won't" /woʊnt/, not "willn't".
Can't vs. Can
In American English, "can" /kæn/ and "can't" /kænt/ sound very similar. Listen for the final /t/ sound and the slightly longer vowel in "can't".
Let's (let + us)
Question Contractions
Native speakers often use contractions in questions:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't confuse "it's" and "its": It's = it is. Its = possessive (no apostrophe)
- Don't confuse "you're" and "your": You're = you are. Your = possessive
- Don't confuse "they're," "their," and "there": They're = they are. Their = possessive. There = location
- Don't over-enunciate: Contractions should flow naturally, not be pronounced as two separate words
Practice Sentences
Read these sentences aloud, focusing on natural contraction pronunciation:
- I'm sure you'll love it once you've tried it.
- She's been working hard, but she hasn't finished yet.
- They're going to the movies, aren't they?
- I'd help you if I could, but I can't right now.
- We've got to go - it's getting late and we don't want to miss our train.
Practice these daily, and you'll sound more natural in no time!