Helping action words, also known as auxiliary verbs, play an important role in English grammar. They help the main verb express tense, mood, voice, and aspect. These include verbs like is, am, are, was, were, has, have, had, will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, might, must, etc.
In daily spoken and informal written English, we often use short forms (also called contractions) to make our speech sound natural and fluent.
Let’s explore the common helping verbs and their short forms, along with usage and examples:
✅ 1. BE VERBS — is, am, are
These verbs are commonly shortened when used with pronouns.
| Full Form | Short Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I am | I’m | I’m happy today. |
| You are | You’re | You’re my best friend. |
| He is | He’s | He’s reading a book. |
| She is | She’s | She’s a doctor. |
| It is | It’s | It’s raining. |
| We are | We’re | We’re ready to go. |
| They are | They’re | They’re waiting for you. |
📝 Note: It’s = It is, but It’s is different from its (possessive form).
✅ 2. HAVE / HAS / HAD as Helping Verbs
| Full Form | Short Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I have | I’ve | I’ve finished my work. |
| You have | You’ve | You’ve done it well. |
| He has | He’s | He’s gone to school. |
| She has | She’s | She’s eaten lunch. |
| We have | We’ve | We’ve seen that movie. |
| They have | They’ve | They’ve already left. |
| I had | I’d | I’d forgotten her name. |
| You had | You’d | You’d better call her. |
📝 Be careful:
“He’s” can mean “He is” or “He has” — context helps to decide.
E.g., He’s playing (He is) vs. He’s gone (He has).
✅ 3. WILL / SHALL
| Full Form | Short Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I will | I’ll | I’ll call you later. |
| You will | You’ll | You’ll enjoy the party. |
| He will | He’ll | He’ll be late today. |
| She will | She’ll | She’ll sing tonight. |
| We will | We’ll | We’ll win the match. |
| They will | They’ll | They’ll reach by 6 pm. |
| Shall | ’ll | I’ll (I shall) do it. (Rare in modern English except in formal use) |
✅ 4. WOULD / SHOULD / COULD
| Full Form | Short Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I would | I’d | I’d like a cup of tea. |
| He would | He’d | He’d prefer silence. |
| You should | You’d | You’d better be honest. |
| We could | We’d | We’d go if we had time. |
📝 Again, context decides if “I’d” means “I would” or “I had.”
✅ 5. IS / ARE / WILL in Negative Contractions
We also use short forms in negative sentences:
| Full Form | Short Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| is not | isn’t | He isn’t here. |
| are not | aren’t | They aren’t ready. |
| was not | wasn’t | She wasn’t feeling well. |
| were not | weren’t | We weren’t aware. |
| will not | won’t | I won’t forget you. |
| would not | wouldn’t | He wouldn’t lie. |
| should not | shouldn’t | You shouldn’t worry. |
| cannot | can’t | I can’t swim. |
| could not | couldn’t | She couldn’t come. |
| do not | don’t | I don’t know. |
| does not | doesn’t | He doesn’t care. |
| did not | didn’t | They didn’t finish it. |
| has not | hasn’t | He hasn’t called yet. |
| have not | haven’t | I haven’t eaten. |
| had not | hadn’t | We hadn’t seen her before. |
🎯 Why Use Contractions?
- They make speech smoother and more natural.
- They are common in conversations, informal writing, and storytelling.
- They help avoid repetition and make sentences shorter.
❗ When to Avoid Contractions:
- In formal writing (research papers, legal documents, applications).
- When emphasis or clarity is needed.
📌 Conclusion
Mastering short forms (contractions) of helping verbs is essential for spoken fluency and understanding native-level English. Remember that context plays a key role in identifying their correct meaning.
🔁 Practice Tip: Try to speak daily sentences using contractions, like
- “I’m learning English.”
- “She’s my friend.”
- “We’ll meet tomorrow.”
- “They haven’t arrived yet.”