---
title: contraction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «contraction» in the school dictionary: In grammar, a contraction is a short form made by joining two words with an apostrophe, like «don't» (do not) or «I'm» (I am). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# contraction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** contraction, metal, muscle, Contractions, baby, apostrophe · **What happens:** be, make, join, not do, mean, get · **To what, where:** short form, grammar, two words, science, muscle, tightenings · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«contraction» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [contraction in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/contraction.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In grammar, a contraction is a short form made by joining two words with an apostrophe, like «don't» (do not) or «I'm» (I am).

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:m1:1
# text = In grammar, a contraction is a short form made by joining two words with an apostrophe, like «don't» (do not) or «I'm» (I am).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	grammar	grammar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	joining	join	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
13	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	apostrophe	apostrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	_
24	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
26	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	25	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	25	punct	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
29	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	32	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
33	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	35	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	35	nsubj	_	_
35	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	35	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a contraction | a short form |  | grammar |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a short form *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **join** | gerund |  | two words |  |  |  | with a apostrophe | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent word=Patient with apostrophe=Co-Patient |
| 4 | **not** **do** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **not** **do** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science, contraction means getting smaller or shorter, like a metal shrinking when it cools or a muscle tightening.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:m2:1
# text = In science, contraction means getting smaller or shorter, like a metal shrinking when it cools or a muscle tightening.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	ccomp	_	_
7	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	shorter	short	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	shrinking	shrink	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
15	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	17	mark	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	cools	cool	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
21	tightening	tighten	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | contraction |  |  | science |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **shrink** | gerund | a metal |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **cool** | present | metal | a muscle |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent muscle=Patient |
| 5 | **tighten** | gerund | a muscle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Contractions are the tightenings of the womb when a baby is about to be born.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:m3:1
# text = Contractions are the tightenings of the womb when a baby is about to be born.
1	Contractions	contraction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tightenings	tightening	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	womb	womb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	about	about	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Contractions | the tightenings |  |  |  | of the womb | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a baby |  |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **bear** | to-infinitive · passive | a baby *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S» |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Won't» is a contraction of «will not».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:x1:1
# text = «Won't» is a contraction of «will not».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | future |  | a contraction |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The apostrophe shows the missing letters in a contraction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:x2:1
# text = The apostrophe shows the missing letters in a contraction.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	apostrophe	apostrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the apostrophe | the missing letters |  |  |  | in a contraction | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent letter=Patient in contraction=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cold weather causes contraction of the metal rails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:x3:1
# text = Cold weather causes contraction of the metal rails.
1	Cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | Cold weather | contraction of the metal rails |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition contraction=Patient |
| 2 | **contract** |  |  | the metal rails |  |  |  |  | nom contraction «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muscle contraction makes your arm bend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:x4:1
# text = Muscle contraction makes your arm bend.
1	Muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bend	bend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Muscle contraction | your arm bend |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bend=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum's contractions started, so they went to the hospital.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:x5:1
# text = Mum's contractions started, so they went to the hospital.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	contractions	contraction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past | Mum's contractions |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **go** | past | contractions *= contraction* |  |  | the hospital |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to hospital=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **contract** |  | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | nom contraction «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write the contraction for «they are».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contraction:x6:1
# text = Write the contraction for «they are».
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | the contraction |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent contraction=Theme |
| 2 | **does** *in a quote* | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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