The unassuming contraction "what’s" pops up in our daily conversations all the time. But have you ever stopped to think about what it really means, and how it functions in a sentence?
What’s the Short Story?
"What’s" is simply a shorthand way of saying "what is" or "what has." It’s a contraction, formed by merging the two words together and replacing the missing letters with an apostrophe. This contraction makes our speech and informal writing flow more smoothly.
For instance:
- "What’s that?" (Short for: "What is that?")
- "What’s on your mind?" (Short for: "What is on your mind?")
- "What’s she been up to?" (Short for: "What has she been up to?")
Beyond the Basics
While "what’s" simplifies our speech, it can also be used in a few different ways:
- Informal language: "What’s" is most common in casual settings and conversation. It wouldn’t be appropriate to use "what’s" in a formal essay or presentation.
- Seeking information: We often use "what’s" to ask questions and gather information. "What’s the capital of France?" or "What’s the weather like today?"
- Expressing surprise or curiosity: "What’s this?" can be used to show surprise about something unexpected.
Interesting tidbits:
- "What’s" can also be pronounced in a couple of different ways, depending on your accent: /hwʌts/ or /wɒts/.
- There’s a similar contraction "what’d" which is short for "what had" or "what would."
So next time you use "what’s", remember this little breakdown! It’s a handy contraction that keeps our communication flowing and informal.
