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As you know, abbreviation is the “shortening” of a word, when some letters are, as it were, “thrown out” of the word. An apostrophe (') is placed in place of "kicked out" letters in English.
Abbreviated or short forms are an integral part of English speech. Their use speaks directly to the tone of the conversation. Many mistakenly assume that abbreviations have no place, for example, in writing. However, in friendly correspondence, for example, they are quite acceptable. Of course, they should be avoided in business reports and documents.
Most often, the negative particle 'not' is shortened . It turns into n't , while merging with the previous verb:
- After the verb forms be : aren't, isn't, wasn't, weren't
- After modal verbs: can't, couldn't, mustn't, shouldn't, won't, wouldn't
- After the verb forms do : didn't, doesn't, don't
- After the verb forms have : hasn't, haven't, hadn't
We were not ready for the changes. = We weren’t ready for the changes.
She could not have missed it. = She couldn’t have missed it.
Why did not you call me? = Why didn’t you call me?
They have not arrived yet. = They haven’t arrived yet.
In addition to the 'not' particle, it is customary in English to abbreviate the forms of the verbs 'to be', 'to have', 'to do', as well as the modal verbs 'can', 'may', 'must', 'need', 'will ', 'shall', etc. in all tenses.
List of common abbreviated forms
Table. Abbreviated forms of verbs in English [Contraction of Verbs].
|
aren't |
are not |
|
can't |
cannot |
|
couldn't |
could not |
|
didn't |
did not |
|
doesn't |
does not |
|
don't |
do not |
|
hadn't |
had not |
|
hasn't |
has not |
|
haven't |
have not |
|
he'd |
he had; he would |
|
he'll |
he will; he shall |
|
he's |
he is; he has |
|
I'd |
I had; I would |
|
I'll |
I will; I shall |
|
I'm |
I am |
|
I've |
I have |
|
isn't |
is not |
|
it's |
it is; it has |
|
let's |
let us |
|
mightn't |
might not |
|
mustn't |
must not |
|
shan't |
shall not |
|
she'd |
she had; she would |
|
she'll |
she will; she shall |
|
she's |
she is; she has |
|
shouldn't |
should not |
|
that's |
that is; that has |
|
there's |
there is; there has |
|
they'd |
they had; they would |
|
they'll |
they will; they shall |
|
they're |
they are |
|
they've |
they have |
|
we'd |
we had; we would |
|
we're |
we are |
|
we've |
we have |
|
weren't |
were not |
|
what'll |
what will; what shall |
|
what're |
what are |
|
what's |
what is; what has |
|
what've |
what have |
|
where's |
where is; where has |
|
who'd |
who had; who would |
|
who'll |
who will; who shall |
|
who're |
who are |
|
who's |
who is; who has |
|
who've |
who have |
|
won't |
will not |
|
wouldn't |
would not |
|
you'd |
you had; you would |
|
you'll |
you will; you shall |
|
you're |
you are |
|
you've |
you have |
You probably noticed that it is the auxiliary verbs that are reduced, because there are few of them, everyone knows them and they are easy to recognize in abbreviated form, which cannot be said about all other verbs. How, for example, to shorten reserve, buy, write so that you are understood?
There is one but:
Do not abbreviate the auxiliary verb if the sentence consists only of the subject and this verb. In this case, a logical stress falls on it: if we shorten it, then there will be nothing to stress.
Are you a student? - Yes, I am. Yes, I’m.
Have they written the report yet? - Yes, they have. Yes, they’ve.
This rule does not apply to abbreviations with not : in them, after all, the verb remains intact.
The table also shows that abbreviations "stick" to pronouns and interrogative words. What about nouns? Can you say 'The table's been repaired'? In principle, it is possible, but, to be honest, such use is rare. Abbreviations can be attached, for example, to the names or designation words of people.
Alicia’s going to see the doctor on Friday.
The doctor’s fixed the appointment on 11 a.m.
If you notice, am not is not abbreviated. Once upon a time it was possible to say ' amn't', but today this form is practically not used. However, aren't can be used instead , for example, in questions with a tail.
I am her brother, aren’t I?
Ain't , however, can replace any auxiliary verb + not. This tends to be seen in dialects and jargons, as well as in colloquial speech.
There ain’t (вместо isn’t) anything we can do.
I ain't (вместо haven’t) done anything.
