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
replacing any contractions with the groups of words they represent. 1. I can’t go with you because I’m busy that day. 2. It’s clear that the dog is frightened because he keeps placing his tail between his legs. 3. They’ve been trimming the trees at the park since this morning; I haven’t been able to · sleep since they started. 4. You mustn’t pester your grandmother like that. 5. She’ll bring Jonathan with her if he’s willing to chip in for gas.
University of Sussex
sussex.ac.uk › informatics › punctuation › apostrophe › contractions
Contractions : The Apostrophe
Such contractions represent the most useful job the apostrophe does for us, since, without it, we would have no way of expressing in writing the difference between she'll and shell, he'll and hell, can't and cant, I'll and ill, we're and were, she'd and shed, we'll and well, and perhaps a few others. A few words ...
Videos
00:31
Contractions in English - Contractions with SHE - YouTube
Contractions: will= 'll
04:50
Learn Contractions using WILL | Pronunciation and Grammar - YouTube
04:07
How to pronounce she'll in English #contractions #pronunciation ...
06:40
Learn English Contractions WOULD vs HAD | Pronunciation and Grammar ...
08:53
Speak English Naturally with WOULD contractions: I'D, YOU'D, HE'D... ...
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
Are contractions one or two words?
Contractions are made up of one word that typically has a contraction apostrophe to replace the omitted letters. The uncontracted form of the word is most often two words.
study.com
study.com › courses › english courses › study.com act study guide and test prep
Contractions in Grammar | Overview, Definition & Examples - Lesson ...
What are verb contractions?
Contractions are typically made with verbs. The most common verbs used in contractions include "to be," "can," "do," and "have."
study.com
study.com › courses › english courses › study.com act study guide and test prep
Contractions in Grammar | Overview, Definition & Examples - Lesson ...
Langeek
langeek.co › home › grammar › punctuation and spelling › contractions
"Contractions" in English Grammar | LanGeek
2 weeks ago - But when we use contractions, we are using a single word as a combination for ... Wanna stands for 'want' and 'to'. 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.
Grammarly
grammarly.com › blog › grammar › contractions
What Are Contractions in Writing? Definition and Examples | Grammarly
August 10, 2022 - Only certain words can be contracted: typically small and common words (not, is/are), especially pronouns (I, he/she/it, they), and modal verbs (can, will, might, must, should, would, could).
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
May 2, 2025 - An apostrophe followed by an "s" may indicate possession (e.g., "Dave's house") or contraction (e.g., "Dave's here" = "Dave is here"). ... A possessive noun is used to indicate ownership (e.g., “doctor’s” in “doctor’s note”). It’s formed by adding an apostrophe and an “s.” ... Personal pronouns are words like “I,” “she,” and “it” that are used to refer to people and things without explicitly naming them.
Study.com
study.com › courses › english courses › study.com act study guide and test prep
Contractions in Grammar | Overview, Definition & Examples - Lesson | Study.com
April 30, 2016 - The contraction for "she would" is "she'd," as in "She said she'd help." The contraction for "he would" is "he'd," as in "He'd love to come." The word "will" is contracted by removing the "wi" and replacing it with a contractive apostrophe.
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.
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 - A contraction consists of two words shortened (contracted) into one word. It reflects the way people often speak. "Do not" becomes "don't." "Will not" becomes "won't." "I am" becomes "I'm." "You are" becomes "you're." "She is" becomes "she's."
University of Nevada, Reno
unr.edu › university › writing & speaking center › writing & speaking resources › contractions
Contractions | University Writing & Speaking Center | University of Nevada, Reno
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 (‘). Shouldn’t = Should not · Wouldn’t = Would not · Couldn’t = Could not ·
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › grammar › british-grammar › contractions
Contractions - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary
The following are the most common contractions. ... She is not is contracted to she isn’t or she’s not. I am not is only contracted to I’m not. Not: I’m n’t or I am n’t. They are not is contracted to they aren’t or they’re not. The isn’t / aren’t contractions are more common after nouns.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Wikipedia:List_of_English_contractions
Wikipedia:List of English contractions - Wikipedia
This list is part of the internal Wikipedia Manual of Style. For encyclopedic information see English auxiliaries and contractions. This is a list of contractions used in the Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Abbreviations; these are to be avoided anywhere other than in direct quotations in encyclopedic ...
YourDictionary
yourdictionary.com › grammar › contractions & compound words › using contractions correctly
Using Contractions Correctly | YourDictionary
July 15, 2022 - You replace the letters that were removed from the original words with an apostrophe when you make the contraction. If you combine “is” + “not” to form “isn’t,” you remove the “o” from “not” and replace it with an apostrophe. One common exception to this rule is the word “won’t.” It is a shortened form of “will not,” but you can see the word “will” is not in the contraction at all.
EC English
ecenglish.com › learnenglish › lessons › contractions
Contractions | Learn English
We make contractions by connecting ... 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 time she ......
GCFGlobal
edu.gcfglobal.org › en › grammar › contractions › 1
Grammar: Contractions
For instance, the contraction couldn't means could not. As you can see, the o in not isn't in the word couldn't. The apostrophe goes in its place, right between the n and t. Let's look at another example. You'll means you will. This contraction is missing two letters from the word will: w and i.
EnglishClub
englishclub.com › vocabulary › contractions-positive.php
Positive Contractions | Learn English
she has/ she is she'll ... she will she'd ... 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.
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 - Would is the past-tense of will. However, it does not get contracted with question words. An apostrophe replaces the letters “woul–.” · She said I’d need more time.
Promova
promova.com › english-grammar › list-of-contractions
List of Contractions in English | Common Words Alphabetically | Promova Blog
October 8, 2025 - She will → She'll. ... He would → He'd. We would → We'd. ... Do not → Don't. Could not → Couldn't. Can not → Can't. ... The mentioned contractions are widely used not only in casual speech but also in formal writing.
FluentU
fluentu.com › home › english › contractions in english: meaning, usage and common examples
Contractions in English Grammar: Meaning, Usage and Common Examples | FluentU English Blog
June 11, 2025 - To recognize English contractions, look for the floating punctuation mark called an apostrophe (“I’m”), which appears in most common English contractions. For instance, the word “she’ll” (she will) isn’t the same as “shell” (as in, “a shell on the beach”), which has a ...