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Singasong Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Use of Apostrophe

Oops, I used the "Report" (didn't notice that section was archived). Here I go again now I've found my thinking cap and "Post" box. Question: Don't the contractions: "I'd", "she'd", "he'd", "you'd", etc. mean "I had", "she had", "he had", "you had"? If " 'd" also stood for "would" , which I think is improper English?, how would anyone know the difference? I couldn't find the contractions for "I would", "you would" on the net.
  

Top answer

Well, I think these things are evolving quite fast. "I'd better" stands for "I had better", but "I'd like" also stands for "I would/should like" . The thing is to use them as you feel, but in a way that can be clearly understood by the one(s) you're talking to.

  • Well, I think these things are evolving quite fast.
  • "I'd better" stands for "I had better", but "I'd like" also stands for "I would/should like" .
  • The thing is to use them as you feel, but in a way that can be clearly understood by the one(s) you're talking to.
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4 Answers
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Well, I think these things are evolving quite fast. "I'd better" stands for "I had better", but "I'd like" also stands for "I would/should like" .

The thing is to use them as you feel, but in a way that can be clearly understood by the one(s) you're talking to.
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Hi,

Native speakers will usually have no trouble at all recognizing from the context and tense which word is contracted.

When I arrived at the airport, I found that I'd missed my plane. 'Would' does not make any sense here.

If I were you, I'd marry Tom. 'Had' does not make any sense here.

Best wishes, Cli
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Yes; you could say:

I'd + bare infinitive = I would.

I'd + past participle = I had.

MrP
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Except...

I'd + better + bare infinitive = I had.

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