Find English Teachers
Sam
How common/formal is the contraction of tu to t'?
As far as I can tell, it's common in speech but how often is it written? Is there an element of formality in when it's used, like would it be avoided in books? Would it be acceptable in the narration or just the dialogue? And things like this...
Ex. "t'as" instead of "tu as"
Oct 6, 2015 4:18 AM
Answers · 3
2
t'as:
-used in 99% of the cases in everyday conversations, in either spoken language or written language.
-would be OK in books if the author really wanted to emphasize that the character is a teenager from nowadays.
tu as:
-VERY awkward if used in everyday conversations in spoken language
-mainly used in books
-OK in narrations since the narrator's basically just reading the script
-OK when you just met someone on the internet
October 6, 2015
I guess it's like the English contractions used in everyday speech and informal writing (I'm; you've; we'll; etc.).
October 6, 2015
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Sam
Language Skills
English, French, German, Spanish
Learning Language
French, German, Spanish
Articles You May Also Like

How to Read and Understand a Business Contract in English
8 likes · 2 Comments

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

The Power of Storytelling in Business Communication
46 likes · 13 Comments
More articles