Quora
quora.com › Why-is-the-contraction-for-must-not-the-word-mustnt-instead-of-mustnt-When-were-contractions-like-this-created
Why is the contraction for 'must not' the word 'mustn't' instead of 'must'nt'? When were contractions like this created? - Quora
Answer (1 of 7): “Why is the contraction for "must not" the word "mustn't" instead of "must'nt"? When were contractions like this created?” Well, the omitted letter is an “o”, which lies between the “n” and the second “t”. So ...
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
May 2, 2025 - Sometimes, a contraction can be a single word (e.g., “kinda”), but in most cases contractions are formed using words that often go together (e.g., “do not” becomes “don’t”). Only specific words can be contracted, like personal pronouns (e.g., “I,” “you,” “they”), auxiliary verbs (e.g., “be,” “do,” “have”), and modal verbs (e.g., “can,” “must,” “will”)
Videos
12:15
Can you Say... These CONTRACTIONS? 👉English Pronunciation - YouTube
09:42
Must or Mustn't | English Grammar for Beginners: Using Modal Verbs ...
04:27
Contractions | Negatives “not” | isn't, aren't, don't, doesn't ...
00:52
How to Pronounce Mustn't - YouTube
Contractions with modal verbs | Grammar lesson
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
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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
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 › us › grammar › british-grammar › contractions
Contractions - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary
Not: he’sn’t free. We don’t use affirmative contractions at the end of clauses:
Gymglish
gymglish.com › homepage › online english lessons › grammar rules: learn and improve - gymglish › forming contractions (aren't, can't, i'd, you're, etc.)
Forming contractions (aren't, can't, I'd, you're, etc.): How and When to Use - Gymglish
I am not a liar becomes I'm not a liar Note that in slang, I am not can also be contracted to I ain't.
San Jose State University
sjsu.edu › writingcenter › docs › handouts › Contractions.pdf pdf
San José State University Writing Center www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
One contraction that is not on the above list is “it’s.” It is useful to note that “it’s,” a contraction,
Dictionary.com
dictionary.com › browse › mustn't
Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words
Mustn't definition: contraction of must not.. See examples of MUSTN'T used in a sentence.
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
Contraction of must not | WordReference Forums
February 5, 2011 - The OED offers some comfort: With negative particle affixed 17– musn't, 17– mustn't Brit. /ˈmʌsnt/ , U.S. /ˈməsnt/ , 18– musent , 19– mussent , 19– mustnt; Sc. 19– musnae.
Stack Exchange
english.stackexchange.com › questions › 304178 › what-does-mustntve-mean
contractions - What does "Mustn't've" mean? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
This word is pretty confusing to me. Please explain. Does it mean must not have? ... Yes, this is a double contraction - the must is contracted with both not (giving us mustn't) and have (giving us must've).
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › dictionary › mustn't
Mustn't Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
— used as a contraction of must not · We mustn't forget the lessons that history has taught us. You mustn't say such things. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples · ASK THE EDITOR · QUIZZES · Vocabulary ...
Mylittlepublishing
mylittlepublishing.com › accueil › en › english-grammar › must not, mustn’t, the prohibition
Must not, Mustn't, the prohibition
December 2, 2024 - It is followed by a main verb. The structure for must not is: subject + must not + infinitive without « to ». We use must not to say that something is not permitted or allowed. Example: Passengers must not talk to the driver. Must not is often contracted to mustn’t.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/englishlearning › do you say 'mustn't' in conversational english?
r/EnglishLearning on Reddit: Do you say 'mustn't' in conversational English?
March 24, 2025 -
Hi, I'm learning English and I'd like to know if native speakers use 'mustn't' in conversational English.
If not, what do you say instead?
Thanks :D
Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english › mustnt
MUSTN'T definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary
Mustn't is the usual spoken form of `must not.' You may also like · English Quiz · Confusables · Language Lover's · Blog · Translate · your text · Pronunciation · Playlists · Word of the day: 'cybersecurity' English · Grammar · Collins ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/grammar › what's the difference between can't and mustn't in a sentence?
r/grammar on Reddit: What's the difference between can't and mustn't in a sentence?
March 5, 2024 -
Fill in the blank questions like this "It ___ be him, he went abroad." gives me a hard time
Top answer 1 of 4
3
Both "can't" and "mustn't" are possible in that example, but "can't" would be a lot more common, and many speakers would find "mustn't" unacceptable. It's more common to use negative "mustn't" with deontic modality (i.e., to express that something is not permitted): "You mustn't do that - it's not allowed!" However, "mustn't" can be used with epistemic modality (i.e., to express that something is not possible/probable): "Who's at the door?" "It mustn't be John - he's at work." On the other hand, negative "can't" is regularly used with both deontic and epistemic modality: "You can't do that - it's not allowed!" - deontic "Who's at the door?" "It can't be John - he's at work." - epistemic
2 of 4
1
For what it's worth, I hear a deontic use of "mustn't" in that sentence that seems perfectly natural: ""It mustn't be him, he went abroad", she said with a distressed look. Between the lines: He told me he went abroad. That just can't be him! The universe must not play me this dirty trick of making him a liar. Without the contraction, "must not" works fine as an epistemic thingy too: "It must not be him, he went abroad". In other words, the fact[s], perhaps at first imperfectly known, rule out this identification. I notice, rereading this sufficiently, that two short independent clauses are joined by a comma, which is accounted a bad thing, at least as questionable as using "mustn't".
Reddit
reddit.com › r/grammar › must, mustn't,... don't must?
r/grammar on Reddit: Must, mustn't,... don't must?
April 24, 2012 -
I must go to work. (If I don't go to work, there will be a consequence)
I mustn't go to work. (If I DO go to work, there will be a consequence)
I (don't must??) go to work. (It is not the case that I must go to work)
what is the correct thing to put in place of "dont must"?
Top answer 1 of 5
12
I need not (needn't) go to work. EDIT TO CLARIFY: As far as I know, English doesn't have an unambiguous "don't must" idea that conveys the sense you're looking for. The closest we come is the verb "need" in terms of necessity (it's taken a turn as of late to align more with "want" in a lot of colloquial usage). Logically speaking, "I don't must go to work" = "I don't have to go to work" (whether I choose to or not is a separate issue) = "I don't need to go to work" = "I need not go to work". Any of them will get the idea across, but in terms of your pattern "need not" is the best fit, imho.
2 of 5
7
'I don't have to go to work.' 'I needn't go to work.' ? Must is a modal verb like can and may. These are rather special. For instance, they don't conjugate for number (n/v He musts go to work). You can't form a negative with an auxiliary, either (n/v He doesn't can do the tango). (n/v = non-valid ie badly formed)
Esl
esl.wiki › en › grammar › contraction_of_verbs
Contracted Forms of Verbs [ESL.Wiki]
In general, in modern English, ... → "I'm". By merging a verb followed by a shortened negative particle "not" that is "n't", for example: "must not" → "mustn't"....
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
mustn't / couldn't / can't have done | WordReference Forums
September 15, 2019 - (negative; I'm sure she isn't over forty) He couldn't be at work. (negative; I don't think he's at work) It must not be right. (when you are slightly less certain. We usually don't contract "must not" in this meaning of "must".