In this activity, we’ll explore how to use Contractions in the present simple tense. Contractions are shortened forms of words that make speech and writing more fluid and natural.
You’ll practice recognizing and using these short forms in positive statements, negative sentences, and questions. When we’re speaking, and often when we’re writing, we use contractions (or ‘short forms’) with the present simple. This means that instead of saying ‘I am’, we say ‘I’m’.
Here are the short forms for the present simple positive with ‘be’.
- I am → I’m
- You are → You’re
- He is → He’s
- She is → She’s
- It is → It’s
- We are → We’re
- They are → They’re
Here are the short forms for the present simple negative with ‘be’. This time there are two possibilities (except for ‘I am not’, which only has one). In all other cases, both are used interchangeably, and are equally correct.
- I am not → I’m not
- You are not → You aren’t / You’re not
- He is not → He isn’t / He’s not
- She is not → She isn’t / she’s not
- It is not → It isn’t / it’s not
- We are not → We aren’t / We’re not
- They are not → They aren’t / They’re not
Here are the short forms for the present simple negative with other verbs. The ‘do not’ becomes ‘don’t’ and the ‘does not’ becomes ‘doesn’t’.
- I do not want → I don’t want
- You do not want → You don’t want
- He does not want → He doesn’t want
- She does not want → She doesn’t want
- It does not want → It doesn’t want
- We do not want → We don’t want
- They do not want → They don’t want
Understanding and using contractions correctly will help you sound more like a native speaker and communicate more smoothly.
