Americans use contractions frequently in everyday speech, conversation, formal written language, and all types of communication.  Contractions aren’t slang or for informal use, they’re standard American English.  Using contractions rather than the other language forms is one way to make your speech sound more American.  But sometimes the combinations of sounds in contractions can be difficult to pronounce if you have certain accent patterns, such as consonant cluster deletion or final consonant deletion.  Practice contractions by themselves and in short phrases to get used to using them in your speech, and to pronounce them correctly.

instead of I am, he is, etc.
say I’m, you’re, he’s, she’s, we’re, they’re

instead of I would, he would, etc.
say I’d, you’d, he’d she’d we’d they’d

Instead of I have got, he has got, etc.
say I’ve got, you’ve got, he’s got, she’s got, we’ve got, they’ve got

instead of can not, do not, etc.
say can’t, don’t, won’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t

instead of I have not, he has not, etc.
say I haven’t, you haven’t, he hasn’t, she hasn’t, we haven’t, they haven’t

instead of I am not, he is not, etc
say I’m not, you aren’t, he isn’t, she isn’t, we aren’t, they aren’t

instead of I will, he will, etc,
say I’ll, you’ll, he’ll, she’ll, we’ll, they’ll

Interested in hearing how these contractions sound in the standard American accent?  Try our SMART online practice.

Love watching Downton Abbey on PBS? What if the Crawley family were Americans?  Here's a look at Downton Abbey, American style.