Hi everyone. In this video we're going to look at a rather strange and interesting
aspect of English pronunciation. We're going to look at double contractions.
In case you've forgotten what a contraction is, a contraction is a shorter form of a
word or words. For example, "couldn't" is a contraction of "could not". I've actually
already made several videos on contractions. If you'd like to watch
those, you'll find the links in the description.
Most contractions are single contractions. In other words, only one
part is shortened, just like in this example: The "not" becomes "ehnt". Couldn't.
And there is only one apostrophe. In double contractions, there are two parts
which are shortened. For example, "could not have" becomes "couldn't've". I couldn't've
done it without you. And yes, these are used a lot in spoken language.
You don't have to use them yourself if you don't want to, but you need to be aware
of them, because native speakers use them a lot when they speak. Just one important
point before we get started. We almost never write these, so even though we
often say "couldn't've", we would write it like this in informal texts and like
this in formal texts.
Okay, number one: "cannot have" becomes "can't've". Can't've.
That can't've been him. And let's just look at this one again. "Could not have" becomes
"couldn't've". Couldn't've. It couldn't've been him. Number three:
"do you all" can be said as "d'y'all". D'y'all. D'y'all wanna come? There I used another
contraction: wanna. "Want to" can be said as "wanna" in informal spoken language.
"He would have" can be said as "he'd've". He'd've. He'd've told me if he'd known.
"He will have" can be said as "he'll've". He'll've. He'll've done it by now.
"He is not" can be pronounced "he'sn't". He'sn't. "He's'n't" the one you
should be talking to. Now we have "I would have". This becomes "I'd've".
I'd've gotten up earlier if I'd felt like it. And now "I will have". This becomes "I'll've".
I'll've. I'll've eaten all the ice cream by the time Frank gets here. "I have not"
becomes "I'ven't". I'ven't. I'ven't seen Ethel anywhere today. "It would have"
becomes "it''d've". It'd've. Yes, I know that sounds quite strange by itself,
but in a sentence it sounds a lot more normal. For example: It'd've been nice
if you'd told me that you were coming over. And now "might not have". This becomes
"mightn't've". Mightn't've. That mightn't've been a very good idea. "Must not have"
becomes "mustn't've". Mustn't've. Yes, the first T is silent, so it's "mussentev".
Mustn't've. He mustn't've been there because I didn't see him anywhere.
"Ought not have" becomes "oughtn't've". Oughtn't've. She oughtn't've done that.
"Ought" isn't very common nowadays, but some people still use it. And now "she would
have". This becomes "she'd've". She'd've. She'd've helped me if she could've.
"She will have" becomes "she'll've". She'll've. She'll've arrived by now.
"She is not" becomes "she'sn't". She'sn't. She'sn't the one you should be angry with.
And now we have "should not have". This becomes "shouldn't've". Shouldn't've.
Shouldn't've. Frank shouldn't've stolen the neighbour's mailbox. "That would have"
becomes "that'd've". That'd've. Yes, I know that also sounds a bit weird.
That'd've been the right thing to do. "That will have" becomes "that'll've". That'll've.
That'll've been the last episode.
"They would have" becomes they'd've. They'd've.
They'd've told me if they'd known. "They will have" becomes "they'll've". They'll've.
They'll've been there three months already. "We would have" becomes "we'd've".
We'd've. We'd've gotten very drunk if we hadn't stopped drinking at 10 o'clock.
"We will have" becomes "we'll've". We'll've. We'll've been on the train for five hours by then.
"We have not" becomes "we'ven't". We'ven't. We'ven't decided yet. And now we have
"who would have" which becomes "who'd've". Who'd've. Who'd've thought that those
two would end up together. "Who will have" becomes "who'll've". Who'll've.
Who'll've gotten very drunk at the party? Frank or George?
We're almost at the end. "Will not have"
becomes "won't've". Won't've. Don't worry, it won't've been an issue.
"Would not have" becomes "wouldn't've". Wouldn't've.
I wouldn't've told Frank if I were you.
"You would have" becomes "you'd've". You'd've done the same thing as me.
"You will have" becomes "you'll've". You'll've.
You'll've finished the project by this time next week.
"You have not" becomes "you've'nt".
You'ven't even told me about the party yet.
Thanks very much for watching, guys. I hope you found that helpful.
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