Short forms

Sometimes we join two words into one short word and leave out some letters. This short form is called a contraction. A small mark called an apostrophe (') takes the place of the missing letters.

Your book, Santoor, gives two examples on page 68: are not becomes aren't, and would not becomes wouldn't. The o of 'not' is left out, and the apostrophe sits in its place.

Here are more. do not = don't. is not = isn't. could not = couldn't. did not = didn't. does not = doesn't.

'Cannot' is a little different: it is already one word. Its short form is can't. Two letters, n and o, are left out.

We use contractions when we speak and when we write to friends: 'Tina isn't happy. She can't go out to play.'