Here's a breakdown:
* Shortening the first word: The vowel is usually removed or replaced with an apostrophe. For example, "I" becomes "I'" in "I'm" (I am).
* Adding an apostrophe: The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters. For example, "cannot" becomes "can't".
Here are some examples:
* I am → I'm
* You are → You're
* He is → He's
* She is → She's
* It is → It's
* We are → We're
* They are → They're
* Cannot → Can't
* Will not → Won't
* Is not → Isn't
* Are not → Aren't
Important Note: Contractions can sometimes be confused with possessives (words that show ownership). For example:
* It's (it is) is a contraction.
* It's (its) is a possessive pronoun.
Always check the context to determine if a word is a contraction or a possessive.