‘S = HAS or IS?

So, you might be asking: how do you know when that ‘S represents the word IS or the word HAS. Context is the key.

If the CONTRACTION (‘S) is followed by a PAST PARTICIPLE: DONE, GONE, BROKEN, you know that it has to be HAS.

For example:

He’s opened a business.

OPENED = past participle. It must be HAS.

He HAS opened a business.

He’s opened a business.

It’s been ages!

It’s BEEN… BEEN = past participle.

It HAS been ages. Oh, man! It’s been ages!

Now, if it’s followed by a NOUN, an ADJECTIVE, or the PRESENT PARTICIPLE, right, words ending in -ING, it should be IS.

For example:

That’s all I know!

That IS all I know.

That’s all I know.

She’s hilarious.

She IS hilarious.

She’s hilarious.

He’s leaving.

He IS leaving.

He’s leaving.

Now, it can get confusing where ADJECTIVES and PAST PARTICIPLES are sometimes the same word, right?

He’s broken.

He IS broken? Or, he HAS broken… something?

Again, context will help here. But often, the difference is so small it probably doesn’t matter anyway.

For example:

The shop’s closed.

The shop IS closed or it HAS closed?

Either way, it effectively means the same thing. And if you need help, just ask for clarification.