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 ExchangeGrammarly
grammarly.com › blog › grammar › contractions
What Are Contractions in Writing? Definition and Examples | Grammarly
August 10, 2022 - Contractions are a kind of abbreviation that combines two or more words by removing certain letters and usually adding an apostrophe. 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).
Videos
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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 (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
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Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
What is the difference between a contraction and a portmanteau?
Contractions and portmanteaus are similar in that they are both formed by combining two words and omitting some letters. However, there is a difference between them: · Contractions usually combine two words that are often used together (e.g., “do not” becomes “don’t”). A contraction has the same meaning as its uncontracted form. · A portmanteau is formed by blending two words together to create a new word with a different meaning. For example, “brunch” is a combination of “breakfast” and “lunch.” This is also called a neologism.
scribbr.com
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
San Jose State University
sjsu.edu › writingcenter › docs › handouts › Contractions.pdf pdf
San José State University Writing Center www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
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 is “it’s.” It is useful to note that “it’s,” a contraction, is often confused with “its,” ...
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
May 2, 2025 - She specializes in writing about research methods and research bias. ... Ads help us keep our tools free for everyone. Scribbr customers enjoy an ad-free experience! An apostrophe followed by an "s" may indicate possession (e.g., "Dave's house") or contraction (e.g., "Dave's here" = "Dave is here").
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Contraction_(grammar)
Contraction (grammar) - Wikipedia
3 weeks ago - In general, any monosyllabic word ending in e caduc (schwa) contracts if the following word begins with a vowel, h or y (as h is silent and absorbed by the sound of the succeeding vowel; y sounds like i). In addition to ce → c'- (demonstrative pronoun "that"), these words are que → qu'- (conjunction, relative pronoun, or interrogative pronoun "that"), ne → n'- ("not"), se → s'- ("himself", "herself", "itself", "oneself" before a verb), je → j'- ("I"), me → m'- ("me" before a verb), te → t'- (informal singular "you" before a verb), le or la → l'- ("the"; or "he", "she", "it" before a verb or after an imperative verb and before the word y or en), and de → d'- ("of"). Unlike with English contractions, however, those contractions are mandatory: one would never say (or write) *ce est or *que elle.
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.
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.
BoldVoice
boldvoice.com › blog › contractions-in-english
35 Essential Contractions in English | BoldVoice
This word is also a pronoun-verb contraction that serves two purposes, depending on the context. ... It can be used as "he is," referring to a state, description, or condition of a male subject. ... It could also be used as "he has" and combined with past participles to indicate actions that have been completed. Here’s how you can use “he’s” in both contexts: ... Just like “he is,” this word expresses either the female subject’s state (she is) or an action they completed in the past (she has).
University of Sussex
sussex.ac.uk › informatics › punctuation › apostrophe › contractions
Contractions : The Apostrophe
But I advise you not to use the more colloquial contractions like she'd've in your formal writing: these things, while perfectly normal in speech, are a little too informal for careful writing. 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.
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 - If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow ... 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."
EnglishClub
englishclub.com › vocabulary › contractions-positive.php
Positive Contractions | Learn English
I will/ I shall I'd ... I would/ I should/ I had you're ... you are you've ... you have you'll ... you will you'd ... you had/ you would he's ... he has/ he is he'll ... he will he'd ... he had/ he would she's ... she has/ she is she'll ... she will she'd ... she had, she would it's ... it ...
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
She's [contraction 'she is' vs 'she was'] | WordReference Forums
November 29, 2016 - Click to expand... Of course it has a source! Even if the source was you. Sentences don't just float around in space. ... 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.