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Lessons · Lesson 2 of 11

Contractions for speaking

Sound natural · Beginner · 7 min

Mission: You sound stiff because you say every word in full. You learn to say “I'm” and “we've” the way people actually speak.

Contractions are not slang. They are how most spoken English sounds, and hearing them is half of understanding fast speakers.

  1. Hear
  2. Speak first
  3. Notice
  4. Fix one thing
  5. Speak again
  6. Recall
1

Hear a little

Read or listen. Don't study it. Just follow the conversation.

Muddassir

I am working on a new order. We are waiting for the customer's confirmation.

Zayaan

Perfect grammar! Now say it the way you'd say it to a friend.

Muddassir

I'm working on a new order. We're waiting for the customer's confirmation.

Zayaan

Much better. My friend Nafeesah says, “I've had three cups of chai already — I'll stop after one more.”

Muddassir

One more? He won't stop!

Zayaan

Ha! Exactly. You just used “won't” without thinking.

2

Speak first

Describe what you are doing this week and what you have finished. Speak for 45 seconds.

Don't think about contractions yet. Just speak. Say it out loud, or type it if you can't speak right now.

3

Notice the gap

What did you want to say but couldn't? These are the phrases and patterns that fill that gap.

  • I am → I'm · we are → we're · they are → they'rePresent: who is doing what now.
  • I have → I've · we have → we'veFinished things that matter now: “I've sent the quote.”
  • I will → I'll · we will → we'llDecisions and promises: “I'll call you back.”
  • is not → isn't · have not → haven't · will not → won'tNegatives sound softer and more natural.
  • I'd = I would OR I had“I'd send it tomorrow” (would) · “I'd already sent it” (had).
4

Fix one thing

Try each one. If you miss, you'll get a hint first, so you can fix it yourself.

1. Make it natural: “We have not received the payment yet.”

2. “I'd already sent the proof when he called.” Here “I'd” means…

3. Zayaan's friend Faatima won't drink coffee. “Won't” means…

5

Speak again, faster

Describe your week again, using I'm, we're, I've and I'll at least once each.

Coach yourself, the way Zayaan does after you finish:

6

Recall tomorrow

Save these phrases. They'll come back in Recall practice tomorrow, in 3 days and in a week.

  • I'm working on…
  • I've already sent…
  • I'll get back to you.

Muddassir and Zayaan are real; this dialogue is a practice scenario inspired by their lessons. Read their story.