Contractions are frequently used, mostly in informal writing. At the same time,
knowledge of them is necessary for competitive exams.
Keeping this in mind, I am writing this article and hope it will be beneficial for you.
Contractions are shorter combined forms of two words (both in written and spoken English).
While writing, we use an apostrophe (') in place of the missing letter (s).
Contractions are two words - You have (you and have are two words) These two
words are joined together by removing letter and after then we add apostrophe (You've).
The apostrophe is used to remove the missing letter.
For instance: He is (here the letter ' i ' is removed, and we write ' he's '.
Here, is a list of common contractions used by us in daily life. These contractions
can be seen in comprehension section and in informal English.
Some contractions are formed by using has, have, will:
Some more common contractions:
Full Form Contraction
Will not Won't
Have not Haven't
Let us Let's
Should have Should've
Do not Don't
Shall not Shan't
Tips for the Aspirants:
We use the contraction in question tag. Always keep in mind, if the
main sentence is positive then there will be negative question tag.
Rules:
If the statement is positive, then we use negative tag.
For instance:
We shall go to the Lotus Temple for meditation, shan't we? (correct)
We shall go to the Lotus Temple for meditation, shalln't we? (wrong)
Note: Shalln't - Don't use this)
If the statement is Positive (+), the question tag must be negative (-)
Everyone was happy at the function, weren't they?
In this sentence "Everyone" is a singular indefinite pronoun, so we
use singular verb "was".
"weren't they"? here is used as question tag, indefinite pronouns like everyone,
someone, everybody and no one are used to refer the plural pronoun " they".
That is why, the tag "weren't they" is correct.
If the statement is negative (-), the question tag must be positive (+)
They seldom visit my place, do they?
Here the word "seldom "acts as a negative word.
Choose the correct option:
- I am exhausted, amn't I?
- I am exhausted, am't I?
- I am exhausted, aren't I?
Ans: I am exhausted, aren't I?
Choose the correct option
- Mind your language, can't you?
- Mind your language, cant' you?
- Mind your language, can'nt you?
Ans: Mind your language, can't you?
Choose the correct option:
- Let's go to play outdoor games, won't we?
- Let's go to play outdoor games, shall we?
- Let's go to play outdoor games, shan't we?
Ans: Let's go to play outdoor games, shall we?
If the sentence begins with" Let's"(Let us), the question tag is always "shall we".
Difference Between Its vs It's
It's
It is used an abbreviated (shortened) form of " it is" or "it has". We should always keep
in mind that the apostrophe (it's) never shows possession. It points out that a letter has
been removed.
Its
It is a possessive pronoun.
Who vs Whose:
Spot the error:
Kindly lend me some books for competitive exam, shan't you?
- Kindly lend me
- some books
- for competitive exam
- shan't you?
Ans: shan't you
Explanation:
We don't use "shan't", Always use "will" or "would".
For polite request (Kindly), we use will you or would you.
Spot the error:
Have one more chocolate, wouldn't you?
- Have one more
- chocolate
- wouldn't you?
- No error
Ans: wouldn't you
Have one more chocolate, won't you?
Explanation:
It is a sentence of imperative sentence: Have one more chocolate + question tag
Here the sentence starts as a polite imperative, we use " will you" or "won't you".
Don't play in the scorching heat, won't you?
- Don't play
- in the scorching heat
- won't you
- No error
Ans: won't you
Don't play in the scorching heat, will you?
Explanation:
"Don't play" is a negative sentence, when we add a tag to a negative imperative,
then we use the positive tag" will you "so, in place of "won't you" we use "will you".
Insert suitable question tags for the following sentences:
Exercise for practice with answers:
He is an ambidextrous, .........?
Ans: isn't he?
Don't reveal the secret, ........?
Ans: will you?
He hardly sings any song, ........?
Ans: does he?
There is no sugar in the juice, .......?
Ans: is there?
Everyone has admitted their mistake, .......?
Ans: haven't they?
The team has taken a good decision, .......?
Ans: hasn't it?
The members of jury are divided in their verdict, ......?
Ans: aren't they?