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
Here are some common contractions and the groups of words that they represent.
Videos
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Contractions in English - Contractions with SHE - YouTube
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Learn English Contractions using HAVE | Grammar and Pronunciation ...
10:13
👑 English Grammar: Contractions of HAVE | Improve your English ...
Learn English Contractions using HAVE | Could've, Would've ...
Fast English Contractions | Contract HAS and HAVE
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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 ...
What are contractions?
Contractions are two or more words that are combined and shortened to save time. Typically, you can identify a contraction by the apostrophe, as with isn’t or they’ve—but don’t confuse contractions with possessive nouns, which also use apostrophes.
grammarly.com
grammarly.com › blog › grammar › contractions
What Are Contractions in Writing? Definition and Examples | Grammarly
What are contractions in grammar?
A contraction is a word that has been formed to shorten a word or group of words. One or more letters are typically omitted in the process and are replaced with a contractive apostrophe.
study.com
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Contractions in Grammar | Overview, Definition & Examples - Lesson ...
Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples
May 2, 2025 - Possessive nouns are formed by ... “she’s okay”), people sometimes confuse these forms. However, the context of the sentence can help determine whether it is a contraction or a possessive noun. Examples: Contractions vs. possessive nounsThe car’s been [the car has been] to the ...
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.
Grammarly
grammarly.com › blog › grammar › contractions
What Are Contractions in Writing? Definition and Examples | Grammarly
August 10, 2022 - There’s another rule about ... in the negative, it’s incorrect to use a subject contraction like she’s or I’ve. Instead you should use the subject followed by the contractions haven’t or hasn’t....
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 - It has eight different forms, but only the present simple tense forms—is, am, and are—get contracted. Is is used for third-person singular subjects. It’s contracted by replacing the “i” with an apostrophe. She called to inform us that she’s going to be late.
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.
EC English
ecenglish.com › learnenglish › lessons › contractions
Contractions | Learn English
We make contractions by connecting ... 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 calls me."...
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 contracted form of "it is" is "it's," as in "It's going to rain." The contracted form of "do not" is "don't," as in "I don't want to go." The contracted form of "she will" is "she'll," as in "She'll be happy."
Langeek
langeek.co › home › grammar › punctuation and spelling › contractions
"Contractions" in English Grammar | LanGeek
3 weeks ago - 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.
University of Nevada, Reno
unr.edu › university › writing & speaking center › writing & speaking resources › contractions
Contractions | University Writing & Speaking Center | University of Nevada, Reno
The English language includes words that sounds the same but have different spellings and meanings. Often contractions can be confused with possessive pronouns. While contractions use apostrophes, possessive pronouns do not. ... Example: Your dog is very cute.
The Editor’s Manual
editorsmanual.com › articles › usage › contractions
Contractions in English Grammar | The Editor’s Manual
December 4, 2024 - She’d often stop by on her way to work. (she would) Similarly, the contracted form ’s can represent both is and has.
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."
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.
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
She's [contraction 'she is' vs 'she was'] | WordReference Forums
November 29, 2016 - 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. I think your sentence is wrong. ... To Andygc-san I didn't creat the sentence.
Espresso English
espressoenglish.net › home › english tips blog › 50+ contractions in english: list & examples
50+ Contractions in English: List & Examples - Espresso English
July 16, 2024 - She’s already eaten dinner. He’s been sick all week. We’re going to be late – we should’ve left earlier. We do NOT use the contracted form if “have/has/had” is the MAIN VERB of the sentence, meaning possession.
Elephango
elephango.com › index.cfm › pg › k12learning › lcid › 11877 › Contractions:_Had_and_Have
Contractions: Had and Have Educational Resources K12 Learning, Grammar, English / Language Arts Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help
If you haven't already, please visit the Contractions Related Lessons, found in the right-hand sidebar. Whenever you see a contraction, you will see an apostrophe (') in the word. For example, the word "I'm" has an apostrophe before the letter "m." The word "I'm" is a contraction that puts together the words "I" and "am."
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
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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.
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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.