OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR
32 SHORT FORMS, E.G. IT'S, DON'T

A The use of short forms
A short form like it's or don't stands for the full form it is
or do not. We leave out one or more letters and we write
an apostrophe (') instead. We use short forms in
conversational English and in informal writing such as a
letter to a friend. Short forms are sometimes called
'contracted forms'.
We cannot use a short form when the word is stressed, in
a short answer for example.
Have you looked in this drawer? ~ Yes, I have, NOT Yes, I've
But we can use n't in a short answer: No, I haven't.
B The most common short forms
Some verbs can have short forms when they come after I, you, etc.
VERB SHORT FORMS
am I'm
are you're, we're, they're
is/has he's, she's, it's
have I've, you've, we've, they've
had/would I'd, you'd, he'd, she'd, it'd, we'd, they'd
will I'll, you'll, he'll, she'll, it'll, we'll, they'll
shall I'll, we'll
A short form can also come after a noun.
Vicky's lost her bank card. (Vicky has ...) The card'll be in here. (The card
will...)
There are also some short forms with question words and with here, there
or that.
who's, what's, where's, when's, how's, who'd, who'll, what'll
here's, there's, that's, there'll, that'll, there'd, that'd

12 We will not know the result for some time.
2 Short forms (B)

Complete the dialogues. Put in the short form of these phrases: do
not, he is, I am, is not, it is, what is, where is
► How are you? ~ I'm fine, thanks.
1 .............. your luggage? ~ ............................... in Los Angeles.
2 Do you like this shirt? ~ No, I ................................................
It............................................ my style.
3……………………..that smell? ~ My
husband……………………………… doing a chemical
experiment.
3 's and 'd
Write the forms in full. Use is, has, had or would.
► What's your name? What is your name ?
1 I'd like a coffee, please.
2 There's been an accident.
3 That's correct.
4 I'd seen the film before.
5 Who's got the key?
h We'd have stopped if we'd seen you.