Simple answer: because that's the way English works.
I am -> I'm || I have -> I've
You are -> You're || You have -> You've
He is -> He's || He has -> He's
She is -> She's || She has -> She's
It is -> It's || It has -> It's
We are -> We're || We have -> We've
They are -> They're || They have -> They've
There is a certain amount of ambiguitity here, but the precise meaning can usually be determined by context. You'll notice that the same ambiguity exists with he and it is/has.
Furthermore, it's (it is / it has) can also be confused with the possessive its (note no apostrophe)!
There are no contractions (that I'm aware of) for was (the past tense). She was is always She was, but She had can be contracted to She'd.
Answer from Mike Harris on Stack ExchangeSan Jose State University
sjsu.edu › writingcenter › docs › handouts › Contractions.pdf pdf
San José State University Writing Center www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
you’d you had; you would · she’ll she will; she shall · you’ll you will; you shall · she’s she is; she has · you’re you are · shouldn’t should not · you’ve you have · that’s that is; that has · One contraction that is not on the above list ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/writingadvice › she’d vs. she had: when to use
r/writingadvice on Reddit: She’d vs. she had: when to use
February 4, 2023 -
I’m unsure if this is a dumb question but is “She’d” usually used in speech? I read somewhere that it’s a spoken form of “she had” a while ago but couldn’t recall it correctly.
Like can write : “blah blah,” she’d said rather than: she had said
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She’d can be either a conjugation for “she had” or “she would”, like using it in past tense makes it “she had” and otherwise it would be “she would”. For your example, I think “she’d” sounds okay, but it depends on the tone and voice you use while writing. I prefer “she had”, but I don’t think “she’d” is grammatically wrong in that context.
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Yes, "she'd" is used in speech. It's the contraction for "she had" or "she would," determined by context of what's said. Same with "I'd" or "he'd." Whether you choose to use contractions depends on how natural vs formal you want the writing to sound. Using the contractions will come across as more natural narration, like the narrator is speaking more directly. Not using them will come across as a little more formal. Which you choose is entirely based on personal preference for your writing style and what the story calls for. Note that, regardless of contraction usage, each version is past perfect, not past simple, tense.
Videos
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Contractions in English - Contractions with SHE - YouTube
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Learn English Contractions WOULD vs HAD | Pronunciation and Grammar ...
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Learn English Contractions using HAVE | Grammar and Pronunciation ...
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👑 English Grammar: Contractions of HAVE | Improve your English ...
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Part 2: Contractions = have, had, would & will - YouTube
What is the difference between an abbreviation and a contraction?
Abbreviations and contractions are both used to shorten a word, but in different ways. · An abbreviation is formed using the initial letters (or sometimes other parts) of a longer word or phrase to represent the whole. Common examples include “Mr.” for “Mister,” “Dr.” for “Doctor,” and “NASA” for “National Aeronautics and Space Administration.” They are used in formal writing as well as everyday conversations. · A contraction, on the other hand, is formed by combining two words and omitting one or more letters. The deleted letters are replaced with an apostrophe (e.g., “cannot” becomes “can’t”
scribbr.com
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
What are contractions?
Contractions are two or more words that are combined and shortened to save time. Typically, you can identify a contraction by the apostrophe, as with isn’t or they’ve—but don’t confuse contractions with possessive nouns, which also use apostrophes.
grammarly.com
grammarly.com › blog › grammar › contractions
What Are Contractions in Writing? Definition and Examples | Grammarly
What are contractions (words)?
Contractions are short words that are made by combining two words. This is often done by deleting certain letters and replacing them with an apostrophe (e.g., “do not” becomes “don’t”). · Although contractions are common in everyday speech, they should generally be avoided in formal or academic writing. However, there are exceptions (e.g., when writing dialogue in a story or directly quoting an author who uses contractions in your paper). · A good rule of thumb is to consider your audience and the intended effect of your writing when deciding whether to use contractions.
scribbr.com
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
Grammarly
grammarly.com › blog › grammar › contractions
What Are Contractions in Writing? Definition and Examples | Grammarly
August 10, 2022 - There’s another rule about contractions, again particular to American English, related to subject contractions in the present perfect tense (used for past actions that are related to or continue into the present). When the present perfect tense is used in the negative, it’s incorrect to use a subject contraction like she’s or I’ve.
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
May 2, 2025 - NoteSome contractions have more than one possible meaning. For example, “she’d” can mean “she had” or “she would.” The correct meaning is usually clear from the context of the sentence.
Gymglish
gymglish.com › homepage › online english lessons › grammar rules: learn and improve - gymglish › contractions: 'would' vs 'had'
Contractions: 'would' vs 'had': How and When to Use - Gymglish
The auxiliary verbs would and had are both contracted to 'd. How can they be distinguished? • Would is always followed by a verb in the infinitive without the to: I'd like some sugar please. I would like some sugar please. I'd be glad to meet you. I would be glad to meet you.
Elephango
elephango.com › index.cfm › pg › k12learning › lcid › 11877 › Contractions:_Had_and_Have
Contractions: Had and Have Educational Resources K12 Learning, Grammar, English / Language Arts Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help
Anytime you add the word "had" ... "had" listed below. Ask your parent or teacher to read you the list: He'd = He had · She'd = She had ·...
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › dictionary › she'd
She'd Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
SHE'D meaning: used as a contraction of she had or she would
Langeek
langeek.co › home › grammar › punctuation and spelling › contractions
"Contractions" in English Grammar | LanGeek
3 weeks ago - If the contractions are confusing, it's better to avoid them. For example: "she'd" can be both "she had" and "she would", so if the context of the sentence cannot clarify which meaning is intended, it's best to avoid using it.
Study.com
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Contractions in Grammar | Overview, Definition & Examples - Lesson | Study.com
April 30, 2016 - The contraction for "I had" is "I'd," as in "I'd been there before." The contraction for "she had" is "she'd," as in "They said she'd already gone."
University of Nevada, Reno
unr.edu › university › writing & speaking center › writing & speaking resources › contractions
Contractions | University Writing & Speaking Center | University of Nevada, Reno
Contractions that take out the first letter of the second word: I’m = I am · They’re = They are · I’d = I had · She’s = She is · How’s = How is · Contractions that take out the second letter of the second word: Note: Contractions that use the word “not” will replace the “o” with an apostrophe (‘).
EnglishClub
englishclub.com › vocabulary › contractions-positive.php
Positive Contractions | Learn English
I will/ I shall I'd ... I would/ ... she had, she would it's ... it has/ it is it'll ... it will we're ... we are we've ... we have we'll ... we will we'd ... we had/ we would they're ... they are they've ... they have they'll ... they will they'd ... they had/ they would Oh yeah. 24 positive contractions...fully ...
Enchanted Learning
enchantedlearning.com › grammar › contractions › index.shtml
Contractions - Enchanted Learning
March 9, 2006 - A multiple choice comprehension printable quiz about Contractions for early readers. Words: I’ll, we’re, you’d, don’t, isn’t, it’s, you’re, she’d, they’re, won’t.
Twinkl
twinkl.ca › teaching-wiki › contracted-form
What is a contraction in English? - Definition and Examples
Twinkl's Teaching Wiki gives explanations of common terms and key vocabulary used in teaching, and shows related Twinkl resources for each term.
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
She's [contraction 'she is' vs 'she was'] | WordReference Forums
November 29, 2016 - She's can also been a contraction of she has. She's been admitted to Standford University. However, I've never seen it used for she was.
Wikihow
wikihow.com › education and communications › studying › english › english grammar › how to use contractions: 12 steps (with pictures) - wikihow
How to Use Contractions: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
August 14, 2025 - “She had like to go to the store” is clearly incorrect. “She’d completed the work by the time I arrived.” This is the contraction of “She had finished the work by the time I arrived” as it is the only grammatically correct option.
University of Sussex
sussex.ac.uk › informatics › punctuation › apostrophe › contractions
Contractions : The Apostrophe
he would or he had · aren't · are not · she'd've · she would have · won't · will not · Note in each case that the apostrophe appears precisely in the position of the omitted letters: we write can't, not *ca'nt, and aren't, not *are'nt. Note also that the irregular contraction won't takes its apostrophe between the n and the t, just like all other contractions involving not.
EC English
ecenglish.com › learnenglish › lessons › contractions
Contractions | Learn English
We make contractions by connecting two or more words together. One or more letters are removed from the words when they are connected. ... There would → There'd → "There'd have been more people here if the party had been on the weekend." That had → That'd → "That'd better be the last ...
LanguageTool
languagetool.org › home › contractions: what they are and how to form them
Contractions: What They Are and How To Form Them
July 29, 2025 - Has forms the present-perfect tense with third-person singular subjects. Use an apostrophe to replace the “ha–.” · It’s been fun. Had forms the past perfect tense for all pronouns, but it does not get contracted with question words.