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:

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.