Find English Teachers
Lena
What is the semantic difference between "do not" and "don't", "I have" and "I've"?
And other abbreviated words such as "won't", "wouldn't" "it's" and so on. Is there any semantic difference or it is just a shortening?
Feb 7, 2016 9:00 PM
Answers · 5
5
Those are called "contractions", and they have the exact same meaning. So yes, "do not" and "don't" both mean the same thing. (In the case of contractions, the apostrophe stands in for the missing letters.) Contractions work well in informal speaking and writing. For formal writing (academic writing in particular) you might want to avoid them.
February 7, 2016
1
They mean exactly the same thing, so it is your personal preference to use either when you speak.
February 8, 2016
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Lena
Language Skills
English, French, Russian
Learning Language
English, French
Articles You May Also Like

6 Ways italki Can Help You Succeed in Your School Language Classes
4 likes · 0 Comments

The Power of Storytelling in Business Communication
46 likes · 12 Comments

Back-to-School English: 15 Must-Know Phrases for the Classroom
33 likes · 7 Comments
More articles