Apostrophe

[yansee]

Good morning all,what is the correct way to use an apostrophe for would not,could not etc ?

[naomi24]

Wouldn't
Couldn't

[dannyk13]

wouldn't, couldn't

[albaqwerty]

wouldn't, couldn't

[dannyk13]

the apostrophe replaces a missing letter, e.g not becomes n't

[shoota]

Shouldn't....

[albaqwerty]

English is a strange language at times.

Why could not becomes couldn't instead of could n't for example.

I love the vagaries of language

[naomi24]

I recall a lesson from primary school. The apostrophe used in this manner is a 'tombstone for a missing letter'.

[Mamyalynne]

Another interesting one is...

Shall not - Shan't

Archaic version...

Shalln't

Which looks all wrong to us now.

[Hopkirk]

I love that Beverly Knight song, "Shoulda Woulda Coulda"

[shoota]

Thou shan't.

[Jackdaw33]

Don't forget will not and won't.

[naomi24]

I flippin' will!

[naomi24]

... and ^that should have been 'shall'.

[Bathsheba]

Ooh! Right up my street is this! Sorry to have missed it :(

Baths
x x x

[Jackdaw33]

Shall and will are rather strange. Strictly speaking Shall should be used with the first person and Will with the second and third. However if the word is stressed then the reverse applies, Will with first person and Shall with second and third. These distinctions are now blurred.

[shoota]

Shall I simplify that or will you?

[Bathsheba]

heheheh shoota

Baths
x x x

[ladybirder]

jd didn't Cinderella say I SHALL go to the ball?

[Jackdaw33]

That was the Fairy Godmother.As I say the distinction has long been blurred and now either are interchangeable.

[Peter Pedant]

the answers have given the forms but not the reasons nor the rules

for contracctions - the apostrophe is a tombstone for a missing letter.
and so folk-sill - the front bit of a ship is spelt long forecastle but can be foc's'le - and you will notice there aren't enough apostophes for the missing letters

is not becomes ... isn't .....and does not becomes doesn't

the long for ( not able to ) has to be cannot [double n and joined] but the short is can't ( loses an n ]

and n't is not a word on its own as every word in English has to have a vowel. Pyx is the only exception - and "cwm bran" is not English

I am not is always I'm not and never I amn't
and the reverse - am I not is always aren't I - altho I are is never used.

oh, and you will be pleased to know that "could" has a silent l in it because Dr Johnson put one in in 1745. So that it looked like should and would. It doesnt need to - as it comes from the Dutch coud which never had an l

we all use dictionaries