Yes and no.
You do use "he's" for "he is" and "he has".
You do use "he's got something" for "he has got something."
You do not use "he's something" for "he has something." [Note that according to @Optimal Cynic this is allowed in some parts of the world]
Therefore the first two sentences you proposed are correct:
He's angry.
He's been angry.
But the third one is incorrect. You cannot shorten "he has a house" to "he's a house." You can only shorten "he has got a house" to "he's got a house." [Again, note what @Optimal Cynic claims]
More examples:
Answer from Frantisek on Stack ExchangeCorrect: I have an apple.
Correct: I have got an apple.
Correct: I've got an apple.
Incorrect: I've an apple.
Grammarly
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, ...
Top answer 1 of 2
9
Yes and no.
You do use "he's" for "he is" and "he has".
You do use "he's got something" for "he has got something."
You do not use "he's something" for "he has something." [Note that according to @Optimal Cynic this is allowed in some parts of the world]
Therefore the first two sentences you proposed are correct:
He's angry.
He's been angry.
But the third one is incorrect. You cannot shorten "he has a house" to "he's a house." You can only shorten "he has got a house" to "he's got a house." [Again, note what @Optimal Cynic claims]
More examples:
Correct: I have an apple.
Correct: I have got an apple.
Correct: I've got an apple.
Incorrect: I've an apple.
2 of 2
2
Yes. He's can mean either he is or he has depending on context. She's and it's work the same way. Pick any reference.
- http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/american-english/he-s
- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/he's
- http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/he%27s?q=he%27s
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 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
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
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › he-s
HE'S | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
contraction of he is or he has: He’s (= He is) late. He’s (= He has) got $12 left. (Definition of he's from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) What is the pronunciation of he’s? in Chinese (Traditional) （he is的縮略形式）, （he has的縮略形式）… ·
San Jose State University
sjsu.edu › writingcenter › docs › handouts › Contractions.pdf pdf
San José State University Writing Center www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
By definition, a contraction is a shortened form of a group of words. Contractions are used in · both written and oral communication. When a contraction is written in English, the omitted ... Here are some common contractions and the groups of words that they represent.
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
May 2, 2025 - “Do not” is contracted as “don’t.” “Do’t” is not a real word. The possessive pronoun “whose” is correct, not “who’s” (meaning “who is”). It’s getting late. “It’s” (meaning “it is”) is correct here. He’s moving to Paris, even though he doesn’t speak a word of French.
Wiktionary
en.wiktionary.org › wiki › he's
he's - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
In most dialects, he’s as a contraction of he has is only used to mark the perfect tense (“He’s done something.”, “He has done something.”), and not to signify possession (“He has something.”).
APSU Writing Center
apsu.edu › writingcenter › writing-resources › Hes-and-His-Its-and-Its-Me-and-Myself.pdf pdf
Word He’s His Definition is the contraction of “he is” or “he has”
He’s is the contraction of “he is” or “he has”. His is possessive and means “belonging to him”.
Quora
quora.com › What-is-heve-And-its-actually-a-contraction-of-he-have-but-how-is-it-used-and-what-is-it-used-for
What is he've? And it's actually a contraction of he have but how is it used and what is it used for? - Quora
Answer (1 of 10): I can’t agree that “he have” is always wrong; think of the question, “Will he have a hat?” However, this is an outlier, and so unusual that it would not be appropriate to contract it. Contractions are used to elide/shorten commonly used phrases, just as abbreviations ...
Dictionary.com
dictionary.com › browse › hes
HE'S Definition & Meaning
He's definition: contraction of he is.. See examples of HE'S used in a sentence.
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 ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/englishlearning › are the contractions of "he is" and "he has" pronounced the same?
r/EnglishLearning on Reddit: Are the contractions of "he is" and "he has" pronounced the same?
March 31, 2024 - ... Right. That’s not the question OP asked though ... The 's contraction only happens when the "is" or "has" is an auxiliary. TO BE, and is conjugations, always work like auxiliaries. "Has" does not, in AmE.
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 in the sentence "I'd love to come" can be determined by the use of the future tense in "to come" and means "I would." The ambiguous contraction "he's" could mean "he has" or "he is."
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › grammar › british-grammar › contractions
Contractions - Grammar - Cambridge Dictionary
Not: he’sn’t free. We don’t use affirmative contractions at the end of clauses: ... I think we’re lost. ... Yes, I think we are. ... However, we do use negative contractions at the end of clauses and we do commonly use contractions in tag questions: ... No, I haven’t. In question forms, am not is contracted to aren’t:
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Contraction_(grammar)
Contraction (grammar) - Wikipedia
3 weeks ago - The direct object pronouns "lo" and "la" may also contract to form "l'" with a form of "avere", such as "L'ho comprato" - "I have bought it", or "L'abbiamo vista" - "We have seen her". Spanish has two mandatory phonetic contractions between prepositions and articles: al (to the) for a el, and del (of the) for de el (not to be confused with a él, meaning to him, and de él, meaning his or, more literally, of him).
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
do we say "he's" as the contraction of "he was" | WordReference Forums
November 3, 2019 - After Julian's question, I realized that I would have to understand "He's here yesterday" as "he was" even though I wouldn't like it. I don't think we ever use "he's" to mean "he was" when we're speaking standard English.
University of Sussex
sussex.ac.uk › informatics › punctuation › apostrophe › contractions
Contractions : The Apostrophe
Since I'm trying to make this document seem chatty rather than intimidating, I've been using a few contractions here and there, though not as many as I might have used. 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.
Langeek
langeek.co › home › grammar › grammar faq › his vs. he's
"His" vs. "He's" in the English Grammar | LanGeek
3 weeks ago - Therefore, it is a possessive pronoun. 'He's' is a contraction of 'he is' or 'he has'. It is used to combine the subject pronoun 'he' with the auxiliary verb 'be' or 'have' to form a verb phrase.
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english › contraction
contraction noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
Wordfinder · birth · breech birth · caesarean section · contraction · deliver · induce · labour · midwife · obstetrics · umbilical cordTopics Life stagesc2 · [countable] (linguistics) a short form of a word · ‘He's’ may be a contraction of ‘he is’ or ‘he has’.Topics ...
Goong
goong.com › word › hes-contraction-meaning
he's contraction Meaning | Goong.com - New Generation Dictionary
Correct English Translation: The contraction “he’s” stands for “he is” or “he has.” ... He - This pronoun has Old English origins, coming from the word “hē,” which is used to refer to males or masculine subjects. Is - This verb originates from the Old English “is,” which ...
Ginseng English
ginsengenglish.com › blog › 2016 › 12 › 10 › d-can-be-a-contraction-of-had-or-would
Contractions with Two Meanings | Ginseng English | Learn English
March 23, 2022 - We use lots of contractions in English: isn't (is not) doesn't (does not), didn't (did not), can't (cannot), won't (will not). I'm (I am), you're (you are), we're (we are). There are tons of them! But let's (let us!) talk about some tricky contractions. Contractions with apostrophe -s ('s) and apostrophe -d ('d) are difficult because they have two meanings. Think about it: what does he...