Contraction

The term contraction refers to a short form in which a subject and an auxiliary verb or a verb and the word ’not' are joined together into one word. Examples are:

I'm (= I am)
can't (= cannot)
won't (= will not)
we'd (= we would/had)

• I’m tired. = I am tired.
• I’ve no idea. = I have no idea.
• My father’s not well. = My father is not well.

Contractions are common and correct in informal speech. They are not normally used in formal writing.

In no-standard English, ain’t is used as a contraction of am not, are not, is not, have not and has not.

• I ain’t going to tell him. (=I am not going to tell him.)
• Don’t talk to me like that – you ain’t my boss. (=You aren’t my boss.)