Informal Contractions
Informal contractions are short forms of other words that
people use when speaking casually. They are not exactly slang,
but they are a little like slang.
For example, "gonna" is a short form of "going to". If you
say "going to" very fast, without carefully pronouncing each
word, it can sound like "gonna".
Please remember that these are informal contractions.
That means that we do not use them in "correct" speech, and
we almost never use them in writing. (If you see them in writing,
for example in a comic strip, that is because the written words
represent the spoken words or dialogue.) We normally use them
only when speaking fast and casually, for example with friends.
Some people never use them, even in informal speech.
It is probably true to say that informal contractions are
more common in American English.
Also note that, unlike normal contractions, we do not usually
use apostrophes (') with informal contractions when written.
On the right are some common informal contractions, with
example sentences. Note that the example sentences may be a
little artificial because when we use a contraction we may also
use other contractions in the same sentence, or even drop some
words completely. For example:
- What are you going to do? >>
- Whatcha going to do? >>
- Whatcha gonna do?
or
- Do you want a beer?
- Do you wanna beer?
- D'you wanna beer?
- D'ya wanna beer?
- Ya wanna beer?
- Wanna beer?
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| These informal contractions are not
"correct" English. Do not use them in a written
exam, for example, except in appropriate situations. |
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