45-Minute Live Lesson

⚡

Contractions
Speak Like a Native

I'm · I've · I'll · She's · We're · Can't · Don't · Won't

Ice-breakers Strong Builders Achievers

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⏱ Warmup · 5 min

Which sounds more natural?

Listen inside your head. Which version feels like real everyday English?

❌ "I am going to call you. I do not have time right now."

→

✅ "I'm gonna call you. I don't have time right now."

❌ "She is not here. She has been working all day."

→

✅ "She's not here. She's been working all day."

❌ "We will see you later. It is going to be fun!"

→

✅ "We'll see you later. It's gonna be fun!"

🎯 Ask your students:

"When you text your friends in English… which version do THEY write?"

⏱ Warmup · 5 min

80%

of what native speakers say in everyday conversation
uses contractions.

Skip them, and you sound like a robot reading a legal document. 🤖

I am

robotic 🤖

→

I'm

natural ✅

"Today you'll activate SPEED MODE in your English." ⚡

⏱ Presentation · 12 min

Meet the 4 Contraction Families

Every contraction belongs to a family. Learn the family → know the pattern.

💙

BE Family

"Who you are right now"

I'mShe'sWe're

✋ Touch your chest

💚

HAVE Family

"Experiences you've collected"

I'veShe'sWe've

🤗 Hug yourself

💛

WILL Family

"Your future plans & promises"

I'llShe'llWe'll

👉 Point forward

❤️

NO Family

"Blocking, refusing, denying"

can'tdon'tisn't

🚫 Cross your arms

The Formula: Word 1 + Word 2 → Snap together → Contraction
The apostrophe ' shows where the missing letters went ✂️

⏱ Presentation · BE Family

💙

BE Family

"Who you are and what you're doing right now, in this moment"

FULL FORM		CONTRACTION
I am	→	I'm
You are	→	You're
She is / He is / It is	→	She's / He's / It's
We are	→	We're
They are	→	They're

"Hey! I'm at the coffee shop. It's really crowded today. We're saving you a seat — she's already here!"

✋ NLP Body Anchor: Touch your chest while saying each BE contraction.
"I'M right HERE, right NOW."

PATTERN TO REMEMBER

'm · 're · 's

⏱ Presentation · HAVE Family

💚

HAVE Family

"Experiences you've lived, places you've been, things you've done"

FULL FORM		CONTRACTION
I have	→	I've
You have	→	You've
She has / He has	→	She's / He's
We have	→	We've
They have	→	They've

"Wow! I've never been to Miami. She's lived there for years. We've always wanted to visit. They've told us it's amazing!"

🤗 NLP Body Anchor: Hug yourself while saying each HAVE contraction.
"I'VE carried this experience with me."

PATTERN TO REMEMBER

've · 's (has)

⚠️ She's = IS or HAS → context tells you!

⏱ Presentation · WILL Family

💛

WILL Family

"Your future — plans, promises, predictions"

FULL FORM		CONTRACTION
I will	→	I'll
You will	→	You'll
She will / He will	→	She'll / He'll
We will	→	We'll
They will	→	They'll

"I'll call you after work. We'll grab dinner together. She'll love the place — trust me. You'll see, it's going to be great!"

👉 NLP Body Anchor: Point forward while saying each WILL contraction.
"I'LL be there — in the future, ahead of me."

PATTERN TO REMEMBER

Always ends in 'll

✅ The easiest family — same ending every time!

⏱ Presentation · NO Family

❤️

NO Family

"Blocking, refusing, denying — said fast and strong"

FULL FORM		CONTRACTION
is not / are not	→	isn't / aren't
do not / does not	→	don't / doesn't
cannot	→	can't
will not	→	won't ⚠️
have not / has not	→	haven't / hasn't
did not	→	didn't
should not / would not	→	shouldn't / wouldn't

"I can't go tonight. She hasn't called me back. They don't know about the party. It isn't fair — but I won't complain."

🚫 NLP Body Anchor: Cross your arms while saying NO contractions.
"CAN'T — blocked. WON'T — refusing. ISN'T — denying."

⚠️ SPECIAL CASE

will not → won't

The spelling changes completely — memorize this one!

⏱ Presentation Recap + Quick Drill

The Big Picture

All 4 families — your complete contraction map

💙

BE

I'm
You're
She's / He's / It's
We're
They're

✋ Touch chest

💚

HAVE

I've
You've
She's / He's
We've
They've

🤗 Hug yourself

💛

WILL

I'll
You'll
She'll / He'll
We'll
They'll

👉 Point forward

❤️

NO

isn't / aren't
don't / doesn't
can't / won't
haven't / hasn't
didn't / wouldn't

🚫 Cross arms

🏋️ Quick Drill — Teacher calls a family, class does the gesture!

Teacher: "BE family!" → Students ✋ and say: "I'm, You're, She's, We're, They're!"

⏱ Practice · 18 min

🔍 Decode the Text Message

Real conversation between two friends. Identify the contraction family for each one highlighted.

MESSAGES · SARAH ✓✓

Hey! I'm running late 😅

It's ok! We've just ordered

She's there already?? I thought she'd be later!

Yep! We'll save you a seat. Don't stress 😊

OMG I can't find parking! I've been driving forever

Take the garage — it's not expensive

I'll try! I'm almost there!!

You'll love it. They've got great food!

IDENTIFY THE FAMILY:

I'm running late → Which family?

💙 BE Family — I am running late ✋

We've just ordered → Which family?

💚 HAVE Family — We have ordered 🤗

We'll save you a seat → Which family?

💛 WILL Family — We will save you a seat 👉

I can't find parking → Which family?

❤️ NO Family — I cannot find parking 🚫

You'll love it → Which family?

💛 WILL Family — You will love it 👉

⏱ Practice · 18 min

🤖 Fix the Robot's English!

The robot speaks correct but robotic English. Transform it using natural contractions. Work in pairs!

🤖 "Hello. I am calling because I do not understand the invoice. She is not answering her phone. We are going to need help."

"Hey! I'm calling because I don't understand the invoice. She's not answering. We're gonna need help."

🤖 "I have never tried sushi before. He has been telling me it is delicious. They have a great place near here. I will try it this weekend."

"I've never tried sushi! He's been telling me it's delicious. They've got a great place near here. I'll try it this weekend!"

🤖 "She will not come to the party. She does not like loud music and she is not feeling well. We will have to celebrate without her."

"She won't come to the party. She doesn't like loud music and she isn't feeling well. We'll have to celebrate without her."

⏱ Practice · 18 min

💬 Real Life — Fill the Gaps

Complete these real conversations with the right contraction. Work in pairs!

☕ AT THE COFFEE SHOP

A: Hi! What you're having?
B: I'll take a latte, please.
A: It's a great choice! We've got almond milk too.
B: Perfect — I'm actually lactose intolerant.

📅 PLANNING THE WEEKEND

A: I've been thinking — we'll go to the beach!
B: I can't. I've got plans with my sister.
A: Oh no! She's coming to visit?
B: Yes! We've been planning it for months.

📱 TEXTING YOUR COWORKER

A: I won't make it to the meeting.
B: Don't worry — I'll send you the notes.
A: It isn't the first time this week 😅
B: You haven't missed anything important!

🍽️ AT THE RESTAURANT

A: I haven't decided yet — it's all so good!
B: She'll have the pasta — she always does.
A: And I'll try the steak tonight.
B: Great choice! You'll love it!

⏱ Practice Wrap-up

⚡ Quick Fire Round!

Teacher says the full form → students shout the contraction AND do the gesture!

I am happy

I'm happy! ✋

She has seen it

She's seen it! 🤗

We will go tomorrow

We'll go! 👉

I cannot do it

I can't! 🚫

They have arrived

They've arrived! 🤗

She will not come

She won't! 🚫

You are right

You're right! ✋

I will call you later

I'll call you! 👉

He does not know

He doesn't know! 🚫

Tap each card to reveal • All cards can be reset by refreshing

⏱ Production · 10 min

🏃

Fluency Sprint

60 seconds. Non-stop speaking. Use as many contractions as you can. Don't stop — don't translate — don't be perfect!

Ice-breakers

Present · Simple contexts · BE contractions

Strong Builders

Past experiences · Future plans · HAVE + WILL

Achievers

Opinions · Complex ideas · All 4 families

📋 Sprint Rules:

✅ Keep talking for the full 60 seconds
✅ Use as many contractions as possible
✅ Partner counts each contraction they hear
❌ Don't stop · Don't translate · Don't be perfect

⏱ Production · Fluency Sprint 1

💙 Ice-breakers — Basic Level

Speak about yourself right now

CHOOSE YOUR QUESTION:

❓ Where are you from and what's your life like right now?

❓ Describe your family — who are they and what are they like?

❓ What's your job or daily routine? What do you love or hate about it?

🎯 Target contractions:

I'm She's We're don't isn't

💡 Partner task: Count every contraction you hear. Say "Go!" when the timer ends!

60

seconds

🎉

Time's up!
Count your contractions!

⏱ Production · Fluency Sprint 2

💚 Strong Builders — Intermediate Level

Talk about experiences & plans

CHOOSE YOUR QUESTION:

❓ Tell us about something you've done recently that you're proud of. What happened? What'll you do differently next time?

❓ What's a place you've always wanted to visit? What'll you do when you get there? Who'll you take with you?

❓ Describe something you've been working on. What's been the hardest part? When'll you finish?

🎯 Target contractions:

I've We've I'll We'll haven't didn't

💡 Partner task: Write down every contraction you hear. Who used the most?

60

seconds

🎉

Time's up!
Count your contractions!

⏱ Production · Fluency Sprint 3

💛 Achievers & Dreamers — Advanced Level

Express opinions & challenges

CHOOSE YOUR QUESTION:

❓ Think of something you've always wanted to do but haven't done yet. Why haven't you done it? What'll need to change for you to finally do it?

❓ Describe someone you admire. What's their story? What have they done that you haven't? What'll you learn from their example?

❓ Talk about a challenge you're facing right now. What's been the hardest part? Who've you talked to? What'll you do to overcome it?

🏆 Challenge: Use ALL 4 families!

I'm I've I'll I can't I haven't I'll be

💡 Advanced challenge: Partner identifies which FAMILY each contraction belongs to in real time!

60

seconds

🏆

Time's up!
Which family won?

⏱ Wrap-up

🏆

You've just leveled up!

Today you've mastered the 4 contraction families.
Now your English isn't just correct — it's natural.

💙

BE

I'm · She's
We're

✋ Right now

💚

HAVE

I've · She's
We've

🤗 Experiences

💛

WILL

I'll · She'll
We'll

👉 Future

❤️

NO

can't · don't
won't

🚫 Blocking

🎯 This Week's Challenge

Send 5 voice messages or texts to someone in English this week.
Use at least 3 contractions per message.
Screenshot them and share in the group! 📲

"Cambia tu mentalidad. Habla inglés." 💪

English Mind Academy · Filipenses 4:13

Contractions Speak Like a Native

Which sounds more natural?

Meet the 4 Contraction Families

BE Family

HAVE Family

WILL Family

NO Family

BE Family

HAVE Family

WILL Family

NO Family

The Big Picture

🔍 Decode the Text Message

🤖 Fix the Robot's English!

💬 Real Life — Fill the Gaps

⚡ Quick Fire Round!

Fluency Sprint

Speak about yourself right now

Talk about experiences & plans

Express opinions & challenges

You've just leveled up!

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Contractions
Speak Like a Native