Capítulo 2 · Lección 2.6 · Contracciones
Contracciones en inglés: I'll, don't, can't y las demás
No son «inglés informal»: son inglés normal.
En la conversación real, los auxiliares casi siempre se contraen. Usar contracciones hace que suenes natural y fluido; no usarlas suena rígido y artificial.
Pero no empieces por ahí. Primero se aprenden las formas completas, porque te ayudan a ver la fórmula con claridad.
La regla: Se junta el auxiliar con el sujeto o con not, y el apóstrofo ocupa el lugar de las letras que se quitan: I will → I'll, do not → don't.
Las contracciones esenciales
| Forma completa | Contracción | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| I will | I'll | I'll call you later. |
| I would | I'd | I'd love some coffee. |
| I am | I'm | I'm not going. |
| I have | I've | I've finished already. |
| I had | I'd | I'd already left when she called. |
| he is / she is / it is | he's / she's / it's | It's late. |
| you are / we are / they are | you're / we're / they're | We're ready. |
| will not | won't | I won't be there. |
| do not | don't | I don't understand. |
| does not | doesn't | She doesn't know. |
| did not | didn't | I didn't see that. |
| cannot | can't | I can't help you now. |
| should not | shouldn't | You shouldn't do that. |
| is not | isn't | She isn't here. |
| are not | aren't | They aren't coming. |
| have not | haven't | I haven't eaten. |
| has not | hasn't | She hasn't called. |
| was not / were not | wasn't / weren't | It wasn't me. |
| could not / would not | couldn't / wouldn't | I couldn't sleep. |
Ojo con I'd: puede ser I would o I had (I'd love → would; I'd already left → had). Y 's puede ser is o has: She's tired (is) / She's gone (has). El verbo que sigue te dice cuál.
Comprueba antes de seguir
¿Cómo se dice «No pude dormir» en inglés?
La progresión natural
- Primero, formas completasI will change the tire. Así ves la fórmula con claridad.
- Luego, escucha las contraccionesReconócelas en series y canciones: ya las oyes aunque no las uses.
- Al final, empieza a usarlasI'll change the tire. Vienen solas con la práctica; no las fuerces al principio.
Contracciones en frases
0/20Escucha el audio y fíjate en qué letras desaparecen.
Lista completa · 20 elementos
Ver la lista con notas y trucos
| Español | English | Nota |
|---|---|---|
| Te llamo más tarde. | I'll call you later. | I'll = I will |
| Me encantaría un café. | I'd love some coffee. | I'd = I would |
| No voy. | I'm not going. | I'm = I am |
| Ya terminé. | I've finished already. | I've = I have. En EE. UU. también se dice I already finished. |
| Ya me había ido cuando ella llamó. | I'd already left when she called. | Aquí I'd = I had. |
| No estaré allí. | I won't be there. | won't = will not. Es irregular: no «willn't». |
| No entiendo. | I don't understand. | don't = do not |
| Ella no sabe. | She doesn't know. | doesn't = does not |
| No vi eso. | I didn't see that. | didn't = did not |
| No puedo ayudarte ahora. | I can't help you now. | can't = cannot |
| No deberías hacer eso. | You shouldn't do that. | shouldn't = should not |
| Ella no está aquí. | She isn't here. | isn't = is not |
| Ellos no vienen. | They aren't coming. | aren't = are not |
| No he comido. | I haven't eaten. | haven't = have not |
| Ella no ha llamado. | She hasn't called. | hasn't = has not |
| Es tarde. | It's late. | it's = it is. No confundir con its (su, de una cosa). |
| Estamos listos. | We're ready. | we're = we are |
| Ella se fue (ya no está). | She's gone. | Aquí she's = she has (presente perfecto). |
| No fui yo. | It wasn't me. | wasn't = was not |
| No pude dormir. | I couldn't sleep. | couldn't = could not |