How to Learn the English Contractions
Contractions squeeze two words into one with an apostrophe — "do not" becomes "don't". They are everywhere in spoken and casual English, and knowing what each stands for is key to reading and writing naturally. This deck teaches the common ones.
There are 13 cards in the deck below. You can read through them, practise them right here with the flip-card player, and then save the deck to study properly with spaced repetition — the method that makes them stick for months, not minutes.
Why the English contractions is hard to memorize (and the fix)
The tricky ones are the irregular contractions ("won't" = will not, not "willn't") and the ones that look like other words (they're vs their). Learning the full form fixes both.
The fix is active recall plus spaced repetition. Instead of re-reading the list (which feels productive but barely works), you test yourself — pull each answer out of memory — and you review each card on a schedule that stretches over time. Every time you successfully recall a fact, the memory gets stronger and the next review is pushed further out. That's how you go from "I saw it once" to "I just know it."
The fastest way to learn the English contractions
- Break it into small batches. Learn the "not" contractions first (don't, can't, won't), then the "be/have" contractions (I'm, they're, we've).
- Test, don't re-read. Look at the question, say the answer out loud before flipping the card. The little struggle to recall is what builds the memory — a smooth re-read does almost nothing.
- Review on a schedule. Spaced repetition shows you each card right before you'd forget it. Get one right and it comes back in a few days, then a week, then a month. Miss one and it comes back sooner.
- Keep sessions short and daily. Five to ten minutes a day beats a two-hour cram every time. Consistency is the whole game.
One fact per card. "Won't" is the irregular one — it means "will not", not "willn't".
The full deck: the English Contractions
Here's every card in the set. Practise them above, or save the deck and let spaced repetition schedule your reviews automatically.
| Contraction | Full form |
|---|---|
| What does "don't" mean? | do not |
| What does "can't" mean? | cannot |
| What does "won't" mean? | will not |
| What does "it's" mean? | it is (or it has) |
| What does "they're" mean? | they are |
| What does "I'm" mean? | I am |
| What does "you're" mean? | you are |
| What does "we've" mean? | we have |
| What does "he'll" mean? | he will |
| What does "shouldn't" mean? | should not |
| What does "wouldn't" mean? | would not |
| What does "let's" mean? | let us |
| Which contraction is irregular? | "won't" (= will not) |
Save this deck and actually remember it
Create a free account, keep this 13-card deck, and we'll schedule every review at the perfect moment. First deck free forever — no credit card.
Study this deck free →FAQ: learning the English contractions
How long does it take to learn the English contractions?
Most people can lock in the English contractions within one to three weeks of short daily sessions. With spaced repetition doing 10–13 cards a day, you'll recognise them within days and recall them reliably within a couple of weeks.
What's the best way to memorize the English contractions?
Active recall plus spaced repetition. Test yourself instead of re-reading, and review on a schedule that spaces the cards out over time. Flashcards are built for exactly this — which is why the deck above is the fastest path.
Is this deck free?
Yes. You can practise all 13 cards on this page for free with no account. Sign up (also free) to save the deck and let spaced repetition schedule your reviews so it sticks long-term.