Pronunciation: /kənˈtrækʃən/
noun a shortened form of a word or group of words
A1 A contraction is when a word becomes shorter by combining two words together.
A2 In English, contractions are commonly used in informal speech and writing.
B1 Contractions can sometimes be confusing for English language learners, but they are important to understand.
B2 When speaking formally, it is best to avoid using contractions in order to sound more professional.
C1 Understanding the rules of contractions can help improve your overall fluency in English.
C2 In academic writing, contractions are generally not recommended as they can make the text appear less formal.
verb not applicable
A1 I can't go to the party tonight.
A2 She's always late to our meetings.
B1 They've finished their homework already.
B2 He'd rather stay home than go out.
C1 The company's profits have been steadily increasing.
C2 She'd've been happier if she had pursued her passion.
adjective not applicable
A1 I have a contraction in my muscles after exercising.
A2 The doctor explained that the pain was due to a contraction of the muscles.
B1 The contraction of the company's workforce led to layoffs.
B2 The economic downturn caused a contraction in consumer spending.
C1 The contraction of the market was a result of changing consumer preferences.
C2 The contraction of the economy had far-reaching effects on global trade.
adverb not applicable
A1 I'm happy to see you.
A2 She's going to the store.
B1 They'll be here soon.
B2 He'd rather not talk about it.
C1 We've been working on this project for months.
C2 I'd've finished sooner if I had more time.
pronoun not applicable
A1 I don't like contraction.
A2 She's going to the store.
B1 We haven't seen him in weeks.
B2 I'd rather not go to the party.
C1 They're not sure if they want to invest in the project.
C2 He'd have finished the report by now if he had more time.
preposition not applicable
A1 I'm going to the store.
A2 She's coming to the party with us.
B1 He'd rather stay home than go out.
B2 They've been working on this project for months.
C1 We'll have to leave early to avoid traffic.
C2 I'd've finished the report by now if I hadn't been interrupted.
conjunction not applicable
A1 I'm going to the store to buy some milk.
A2 She'll be here in a few minutes.
B1 I haven't seen him since last week.
B2 They'd rather go to the beach than the mountains.
C1 You're not going to believe what happened next.
C2 I'd've finished the project sooner if I had more time.
interjection not applicable
A1 Ouch! That contraction hurt.
A2 Wow, that contraction came out of nowhere!
B1 Contractions can be quite painful during labor.
B2 I remember yelling 'contraction!' every time one hit.
C1 The doctor explained how to track contractions during childbirth.
C2 Despite the pain, I managed to stay calm during each contraction.
article not applicable
A1 I'm happy to see you.
A2 She's going to the store.
B1 We'll be there in five minutes.
B2 He'd rather stay home than go out.
C1 You've been working hard lately.
C2 I'd've gone if I'd known earlier.
formal The contraction of the muscles in his arm caused him great pain.
informal I think I'm having a contraction, it's time to go to the hospital!
slang She was having contractions all night, it was intense.
figurative The contraction of the company's workforce led to a decrease in productivity.
contracted
contractions
more contracted
most contracted
contract
will contract
have contracted
is contracting
contraction
contracted
to contract
contracting
contracted