Monday, December 10, 2012

usage - Can "it's" be used as a question?





In my experience, people say "it's" in place of "it is," but never in the form of a question. I think the question "It's?" sounds awkward, but I'd like to know if it's grammatically correct. Is it?



This question was inspired by this image on Merriam-Webster's website:
It's used as a question


Answer



You can only contract auxiliary verbs, and never at the end of the sentence, where they would gain stress and therefore not be subject to reduction:




  • He’s sleeping in today.

  • I’ve got something to tell you.




However, these are not auxiliary verbs but principal ones falling at the end, and therefore may not be contracted:




  • I know where he is.

  • You must be wondering what I have.



The contracted forms are ungrammatical there:





  • I know where *he’s.

  • You must be wondering what I’ve.


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