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 - 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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04:50
Learn Contractions using WILL | Pronunciation and Grammar - YouTube
Contractions / you're / he's / she's / it's / we're / they're / that's ...
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
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
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
Langeek
langeek.co › home › grammar › punctuation and spelling › contractions
"Contractions" in English Grammar | LanGeek
2 weeks ago - Is she Sarah? → ✔No, she isn't. ✔No, she's not. Contractions are used to make informal texts and conversations.
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.
San Jose State University
sjsu.edu › writingcenter › docs › handouts › Contractions.pdf pdf
San José State University Writing Center www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
both written and oral communication. When a contraction is written in English, the omitted
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
May 2, 2025 - 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 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 e
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
She's [contraction 'she is' vs 'she was'] | WordReference Forums
November 29, 2016 - "he's" "she's" "they're" etc are only abbreviations of "he is or was", "she is or was", "they are or were. etc. He also added that in the english language there are many abbreviations for words that mean the same thing, but in a different context. So in She's admitted by Stanford University when she was 19, the "she's" of the sentence is abbreviation of "She was", not "She is."
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 - It’s even possible to combine ... have = she’d’ve), although this is only found in colloquial speech and shouldn’t be used in writing. The most common type of contraction in English is the two-word contraction. This means that two words are combined to create a condensed word. However, you can’t simply combine any two words and call it a day. There are rules that should be followed if you want to use contractions correctly. LanguageTool’s Grammar Checker can ...
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.
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.
Study.com
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Contractions in Grammar | Overview, Definition & Examples - Lesson | Study.com
April 30, 2016 - The contracted form of "she will" is "she'll," as in "She'll be happy." Contractions are used often in speech and informal writing. They are used to make writing or speech sound more fluid and colloquial. Contractions are typically made with verbs. The most common verbs used in contractions include "to be," "can," "do," and "have." ... Contractions are used regularly in English grammar...
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 - For example: “It is time to party.” The sentence with the contraction would be: “It’s time to party” as “it’s” is the contracted version of “it is”. “The horse lifted its head.” This sentence does not need an apostrophe as the “it” is possessive and not a contraction. ... Use contractions in a paragraph. Amp up your ability to use contractions correctly by making a list of things you are going to do during your school day. Use “I” or “he” or “she” to describe each action you are going to do today.
University of Nevada, Reno
unr.edu › university › writing & speaking center › writing & speaking resources › contractions
Contractions | University Writing & Speaking Center | University of Nevada, Reno
Contractions are a way to mash together two words in order to make them shorter. Learn how and when to use them.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/grammar › can "she's" mean "she has" in written english?
r/grammar on Reddit: Can "she's" mean "she has" in written english?
December 19, 2013 -
My teacher says that when you write out "she's", it can only mean "she is", though when saying "she's" it can mean both "she is" AND "she has". Anyone have any insight on this?
Top answer 1 of 5
29
Nonsense, but not every instance of has can be contracted to 's. I disagree with u/nihilcupio , you can't write "She's two apples"; people also don't say that, as far as I know. "Has" in the sentence "She has two apples" is the main verb, meaning "possess". But if "has" is just an auxiliary verb to indicate tense ("She has found her dream guy"), it's perfectly OK to contract: "She's found her dream guy" is OK in spoken and written English. Here's a wikipedia link, not the most authoritative, but carries some weight: Contracted auxiliaries The section also explain that 's for does is very informal: "I like that guy. What's he do?" And this is indeed a sentence I would not write down unless rendering speech.
2 of 5
4
Nonsense. "She's" can mean either "she is" or "she has," and the meaning is derived from context: She's fourteen. = She is fourteeen years of age. She's got class. = She has got class. r/zeptimlus 's expansion is excellent. There are some unwritten rules about actual usage.
Quora
quora.com › While-writing-can-the-apostrophe-used-for-contractions-e-g-he-s-she-s-they-re-be-used-after-nouns-also-e-g-The-book-s-good-for-The-book-is-good-train-s-arrived-for-train-has-arrived-Seeta-s-coming-for-Seeta-is
While writing, can the apostrophe used for contractions (e.g., “he’s,” “she’s,” “they’re”) be used after nouns also? (e.g., “The book’s good” for “The book is good”; “train’s arrived” for “train has arrived”; “Seeta’s coming” for “Seeta is coming”)? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): To Rajagopalan, The apostrophe used for the contraction of a pronoun plus a verb indicates a missing letter or letters: * “He’s” = “he is” (“i” is missing), or “he has” (“ha” are missing) * “She’s” = “she is” (“i” is missing), or “she has” (“ha” are missing) * “They’re” = “t...
The Editor’s Manual
editorsmanual.com › articles › usage › contractions
Contractions in English Grammar | The Editor’s Manual
December 4, 2024 - She’s funny that way. (she is) They’re waiting. (they are) It’s 3 a.m. (it is) Something’s wrong. (something is) Everyone’s here. (everyone is) The be verb can also join with nouns to form contractions.
Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english › shes
SHE'S definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary
She's is a spoken form of `she has,' especially when `has' is an auxiliary verb. She's been married for seven years and has two daughters. ... USAGE See contraction.
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 ...
Promova
promova.com › blog › what-is-a-contraction-in-english-grammar
What is a Contraction in English Grammar? | Promova Blog
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines grammar contractions as shortenings of words, syllables, or even word groups by omitting certain letters or sounds and replacing them with an apostrophe. Basically, it means creating a new short form of two or more words. There are dozens of word contractions in the English language. Look at a few of the most popular ones: I/you/he/she/we/they + will = I’ll, you’ll, he’ll, she’ll, we’ll, they’ll; ... do/have/can/could/is/are + not = don’t/doesn’t, haven’t/hasn’t, can’t, couldn’t, isn’t, aren’t.