Page 169 - Perfect Phrases ESL Everyday Business

Appendix C

Grammar Notes

Contractions

Americans use contractions all the time, and they sound less formal
than the non-contracted words. Contractions are used in business
life as well as in personal situations to sound more natural. Whether
or not you feel comfortable using contractions, it is important to be
familiar with them in order to fully understand conversations with
Americans. Contractions are also used widely in TV programs, movies,
and music. However, in formal writing (letters, reports, and proposals)
contractions are frowned upon.
Common contractions include:

I’m you’re
he’s she’s
it’s (it’s can mean “it is”
or “it has” depending
on the context)
we’re they’re
isn’t aren’t
weren’t wasn’t, won’t

151