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 ExchangeWordReference
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."
Can you omit “is” outside of “he’s” or “she’s”?
Noun + 's is correct. You would use "John's a cool dude" in the same way as "he's a cool dude." See also, "John's gone to the store," "John's got a problem." In contractions, we simply say words are contracted. "Abbreviation" is a broader term that refers to the shortening of a word or phrase. For example, "etc." for "et cetera." More on reddit.com
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February 25, 2023Is "there's" as common a contraction as "he's/she's"?
Sure. I use it all the time. More than he's or she's, that's for sure.
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September 11, 2021Contraction using a name and 'is'
It is very much grammatical to attach the cliticized form of is or has to noun phrases, and it will sound natural to native speakers. It might sometimes be frowned upon in formal writing contexts, which sometimes strives to avoid all contractions. But there is nothing ungrammatical about it. Indeed, speakers often even do it with longer noun phrases: The lady with the cat's coming to dinner. More on reddit.com
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February 28, 2017Contractions with is?
Water is blue = Water's blue You are right. Apostrophe is needed. Hope this helps! More on reddit.com
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June 2, 2022What 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
When should you use contractions?
Contractions are considered informal, so they should not be used in formal writing like academic papers.
grammarly.com
grammarly.com › blog › grammar › contractions
What Are Contractions in Writing? Definition and Examples | Grammarly
How do contractions work?
Contractions replace the words they represent and take their place in a sentence. Typically, certain letters are removed, which are noted by the apostrophe.
grammarly.com
grammarly.com › blog › grammar › contractions
What Are Contractions in Writing? Definition and Examples | Grammarly
Videos
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Contractions in English - Contractions with SHE - YouTube
03:31
How to pronounce she's in English #contractions #pronunciation ...
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Common Contractions in English Grammar with Examples and Contractions ...
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How to pronounce she'll in English #contractions #pronunciation ...
04:50
Learn Contractions using WILL | Pronunciation and Grammar - YouTube
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Learn English Contractions using HAVE | Grammar and Pronunciation ...
University of Nevada, Reno
unr.edu › university › writing & speaking center › writing & speaking resources › contractions
Contractions | University Writing & Speaking Center | University of Nevada, Reno
Contractions that take out the first letter of the second word: I’m = I am · They’re = They are · I’d = I had · She’s = She is · How’s = How is · Contractions that take out the second letter of the second word: Note: Contractions that use the word “not” will replace the “o” with an apostrophe (‘).
San Jose State University
sjsu.edu › writingcenter › docs › handouts › Contractions.pdf pdf
Contractions [pdf]
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,” ...
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, he/she/it, they), and modal verbs (can, will, might, must, should, would, could).
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › contraction
CONTRACTION Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
3 days ago - The meaning of CONTRACTION is the action or process of contracting : the state of being contracted. How to use contraction in a sentence.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/englishlearning › can you omit “is” outside of “he’s” or “she’s”?
r/EnglishLearning on Reddit: Can you omit “is” outside of “he’s” or “she’s”?
February 25, 2023 -
“He’s” and “she’s” are correct contractions, but can the same be said for any noun+is, or are these two words exceptions?
For example, “John is a cool dude” would become “John’s a cool dude”. I say and hear “is” being shortened/omitted on the regular, but can this be put into writing? I try to avoid contractions in formal writing anyway, but would it be grammatically incorrect if I said/wrote “John’s” like in the example?
Also, semi-related question, but would it be correct to say that some words are “abbreviated” in contractions?
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Noun + 's is correct. You would use "John's a cool dude" in the same way as "he's a cool dude." See also, "John's gone to the store," "John's got a problem." In contractions, we simply say words are contracted. "Abbreviation" is a broader term that refers to the shortening of a word or phrase. For example, "etc." for "et cetera."
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You can use noun+'s to form a contraction, and I should be perfectly correct. It should be obvious that it's not a possessive from the grammar, but it's worth looking out for. Example: "The elephant's ice" is a sentence which is too vague. Does it mean "the elephant is ice", or that the elephant owns the ice? It all depends on the context in which the sentence is given. But it doesn't look strange to write "John's a great guy", but I would consider avoiding it in formal writing if possible. Technically you could say that, by definition, contractions are abbreviated. But "an abbreviation" is something a bit different. "USA" is an abbreviation of "United States of America", but "it's" is a contraction of "it is". "You're" is a contraction, while "e.g." is an abbreviation. Here's where it gets a bit interesting: "USA's" is both a contraction and an abbreviation. This is why I wouldn't generally call "it's" an abbreviation; it can become confusing.
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › contraction
CONTRACTION | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
2 weeks ago - have a contraction She was having regular strong contractions every four minutes. ... a short form of a word or combination of words that is often used instead of the full form in spoken English:
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.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › dictionary › she'd
She'd Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
SHE'D meaning: used as a contraction of she had or she would
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.
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.
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").
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” ...
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 - 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.
ThoughtCo
thoughtco.com › contractions-commonly-used-informal-english-1692651
Ain't, Won't, Should've: How to Use Contractions Properly
April 29, 2025 - In casual conversation, contractions in English involving nouns are fairly common ("My dad'll be home soon"). In writing, however, they're much rarer than contractions with pronouns such as I'll, he'd, and she's. You can contract proper nouns to mean is or has, such as in the sentence "Shelly's coming with us," or "Jeff's bought a new computer."
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 - Contractions with “not” are often used in tag questions: ... Remember: its without an apostrophe is a possessive pronoun, ex. The car crashed because its brakes failed. It’s with an apostrophe is the short form of “it is” or “it has” (which you’ll see in the next section). ... I’m hungry. It’s raining. She...
Facebook
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Contraction Words 🤓 1. He's (he is) 2. She's ...
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QuillBot
quillbot.com › home › contractions (grammar) | definition, list & examples
Contractions (Grammar) | Definition, List & Examples
(she will) I’m excited to apply for the electrical engineering position. (I am) The restaurant should’ve hired more servers for the holiday season. (should have) NoteFour of the English contractions are different from the rest. “Won’t” is a contraction for “will not,” and it abbreviates the first word “will” to “wo.” It’s the only contraction that changes the first word’s spelling.
Published May 12, 2025
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