🗣️ When Does the ’s in English Mean Is, and When Does It Mean Has?

A tricky part of English pronunciation is the –’s contraction.

Most learners know that contractions make speech sound smoother and more natural, but there’s a catch.

Words like “he’s,” “she’s,” “it’s,” and “that’s” can actually mean two completely different things.

In English, the –’s ending is used for both is and has, and the only way to know which one it means is through context.

If you’re unsure whether –’s means is or has, listen for the word that comes after it.

✅ When –’s is followed by a verb (like been, worked, eaten, or seen), it almost always means has.
✅ When –’s is followed by a noun or adjective, it usually means is.

🔹 He’s = He is / He has

He is → He’s ready for his rounds.
(He is)

He has → He’s completed his residency.
(He has)

🔹 She’s = She is / She has

She is → She’s a cardiologist.
(She is)

She has → She’s worked in cardiology for 10 years.
(She has)

🔹 It’s = It is / It has

It is → It’s a busy day in the ER.
(It is)

It has → It’s been a long shift.
(It has)

🔹 That’s = That is / That has

That is → That’s the correct dosage.
(That is)

That has → That’s caused some confusion.
(That has)

Native speakers do this automatically without thinking about it.
For non-native speakers, learning this subtle detail makes

📝 Key Takeaways: Is/Has Contractions in English

1️⃣ The contraction –’s can mean is or has.
Context tells you which one it is.

2️⃣ When –’s comes before a verb, it usually means has.
➡️ She’s worked here for 10 years. → She has worked

3️⃣ When –’s comes before a noun or adjective, it usually means is.
➡️ She’s a cardiologist. → She is

4️⃣ Native speakers use both forms naturally — without thinking.
Learning this distinction helps your English sound smoother, clearer, and more fluent.

5️⃣ Listen for it in context.
You’ll start to hear patterns in everyday English conversations, podcasts, and TV shows.

✨ Small pronunciation details like this help you communicate with confidence and clarity.