Here is a list of some examples of contraction in English:
| Full Forms | Contracted forms |
| I am | I'm |
| you / we / they are | you / we / they're |
| she / he is | she / he's |
| I am not | I'm not |
| you / we / they are not | you / we / they aren't |
| she / he is not | she / he isn't |
| I / you /we / they have | I / you /we / they've |
| she / he has | she / he's |
| they have | they've |
| I had | I'd |
| I would | I'd |
| I will | I'll |
| I do not | I don't |
| he does not | he doesn't |
| I did not | I didn't |
| I have not | I haven't |
| I had not | I hadn't |
| I cannot | I can't |
| I could not | I couldn't |
| I will not | I won't |
| I would not | I wouldn't |
| I should not | I shouldn't |
| I must not | I mustn't |
| There is | There's |
| where is | where's |
| who is | who's |
Clipping
What is clipping?
Clipping refers to the reduction of a polysyllabic word by dropping a syllable or more from it.Clipping is also called truncation or shortening.
Examples:
spec = speculation
vet = veteran
Types of clipping
There are three types of clipping:
Back clipping
In this type the beginning is retained:
Examples:
ad = advertisement
cable = cablegram
doc = doctor
exam = examination
fax = facsimile
gas = gasoline
gym = gymnastics, gymnasium
memo = memorandum
pub = public house
pop = popular music
Fore-clipping
The final part is retained:
Examples:
chute = parachute
coon = raccoon
gator = alligator
phone = telephone
Middle clipping
The middle part is retained.
Example:
flu = influenza
fridge = refrigerator
Complex clipping
Clipping may also occur in compounds. In complex clipping, one part of the original compound most often remains intact. But sometimes both halves of a compound are clipped:
Examples:
cablegram = cable telegram
op art = optical art
org-man = organization man
linocut = linoleum cut
navicert = navigation certificate
When both halves are clipped, as in navicert, it becomes confusing whether to consider the resultant formation as clipping or as blending.
Blending
What are blends?
A blend, in morphology, is a word formed from parts of two or more words. In this sense blending is a process, among other processes, of creating new words.
Examples:
- brunch = breakfast + lunch
- Breathalyzer = breath + analyzer
- camcorder = camera + recorder
- emoticon = emote + icon
- motel = motor car + hotel
- Globish = global + English
- sitcom = situation + comedy
- smog = smoke + fog
- Spork = spoon + fork
- workaholic = work + alcoholic
Demonstratives - This, that, these, those
What are demonstratives?
Demonstratives are words that show which person or thing is being referred to. In the sentence:
'This is my brother',
'this' is a demonstrative
The demonstratives in English are this, that, these, and those
Demonstrative pronouns vs demonstrative adjectives
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A distinction must be made between demonstrativeadjectives (or demonstrativedeterminers) and demonstrative pronouns (or independent demonstratives).
A demonstrative adjective modifies a noun:
This apple is good. I like those houses. (This modifies 'apple' and those modifies 'houses')
A demonstrative pronoun stands on its own, replacing rather than modifying a noun:
This is good. I like those. (This and those don't modify any nouns they stand alone and replace other nouns)
Use of demonstratives
Demonstratives differ according to:
- distance: near or far,
- or number: singular or plural.
Here are the main distinctions:
- This modifies or refers to singular nouns that are near to the speaker.
- That modifies or refers to singular nouns that are far from the speaker.
- These modifies or refers to plural nouns that are near to the speaker.
- Those modifies or refers to plural nouns that are far from the speaker.
| Demonstratives | Singular | Plural | Near | Far |
| This | 
| - |
| - |
| That |
| - | - |
|
| These | - |
|
| - |
| Those | - |
| - |
|
Es or No Questions
Types of questions
There are two types of questions:
- Yes or no questions
- Wh questions
Yes-no questions
Yes or no questions are questions whose expected answer is either "yes" or "no".
