Name: Why do we use contractions in English?
Uploaded: 2023-12-23T21:01:10.000Z
Duration: 4 min 3 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Present continuous

To-infinitive

When is good to use them, and when is bad to use them.

Why is it that the Terminator chose to say,

Why did Bill Clinton not contract this sentence?

I did not have sexual relations with that woman.

And why did king Joffrey not use the contraction "I'm" and, instead, say,

So, obviously, it's better to use contractions in everyday speech.

For example, "I'm tired", "I'm eating", "I'll do this."

It would sound like a robot to say things like, "I am eating", "I will be back".

Fun fact: The Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, told this story.

Pronouncing the "I'll" was quite difficult for him with his thick Austrian accent.

... for them and listen to it and said, "I'll... I'll..." it... it's just kind of like, uh... and the Terminator doesn't talk like that.

The Terminator would say, "I will be back".

However, the director insisted that he say "I'll be back" and not "I will be back."

Why? Because it sounds more human to say "I'll", the contraction.

Sometimes, it's better not to contract, for example:

Well, let's say someone asks you, "Have you finished work?"

This is a very common mistake I see with my students, and remember not to do it.

If you don't have that extra information after, don't contract it.

And the same is true for other subject-auxiliary or -modal-verb combos.

Don't contract them if there is no extra information afterwards.

Another example: "Would you like to blah, blah, blah?"

Again, we have just the subject, this time, with a modal verb.

You should say, "Yes, I would," not "Yes, I'd."

If you contract it, remember to put that extra information.

In fact, it's better⏤you should contract the negatives pretty much all the time.

That sounds a little strong, and, in some cases, maybe aggressive.

That looks better, more friendly, more human, not so much robot.

So, with the negatives, just remember to contract it.

Not using a contraction makes the sentence stronger.

It adds emphasis and, again, could sound more aggressive, so be careful.

He wanted to sound serious and add emphasis

And it also sounds more formal when it's not contracted.

That's why your English teacher will always say,

In formal writing, don't use contractions.

Because it sounds more formal when you don't contract.

Also, some language experts suggest that people don't use contractions when they speak when they want people to believe them.

Oh, he really wanted everyone to believe him.

So, the next time your boyfriend or girlfriend says, "I did not cheat on you."

That means they definitely cheated on you. Sorry.

Thanks for watching; if you want to see more, click here to subscribe.

Oh, there's another video right here, but you don't have to watch that.

Subtitles ListPlay Video

Why do we use contractions in English?

subscribe

accent

basically

common