Double Contractions!

 ... and the grammar I associate with them.

A lot of people misuse contractions... even in daily speech... I couldn't count the times I've heard this.

"She couldn't of spoken like that."

This is where I take a deep breath, step back, and try not to say anything about it. -- But it bugs me.

I've started to use double contractions in my speech segments in my writing. What is a double contraction, you ask?

Shouldn't've = Should not have
Wouldn't've = Would not have
Couldn't've = Could not have
I'd've = I would have

It makes pretty much the same sound.

She shouldn't've set the school on fire.
He wouldn't've made a very good firefighter.
You couldn't've stopped the school from burning down.
I'd've done it myself.

Now, there's a little more to the rules with the "have" part of the whole thing. It's not the possessive have, it can never be the possessive. [Unless your character is a redneck]

I'd've a pony.
I'd have a pony.
I would have a pony.

You could also apply it to other persons.

2nd - You'd've

You would have broken the lock
You'd have broken the lock.
You'd've broken the lock.


3rd - She'd've, He'd've [Now, in my head, saying these outloud doesn't *click* for me... so be very careful with how you use them.

She would have done community service.
She'd have done community service.
She'd've done community service.

He would have gone to jail.
He'd have gone to jail.
He'd've gone to jail.


It's really all in context. This is how I speak, so it ends up really being how I write.

Have fun with this!