he's
- 1Contraction of he is.
He's the only candidate who answered every question honestly.
Whenever the phone rings late, he's usually the one who picks it up.
Note
One spelling does double duty here: the 's that leans on he can stand for is or for has, and only the words that follow tell you which. A noun, an adjective or an -ing verb points to is, as in he's the candidate, he's tired, he's working. The contraction belongs to speech and speech-like prose. Spell out he is when the verb itself carries the emphasis.
- 2Contraction of he has.
He's worked at the same firm since he left college.
Everyone can tell he's grown more confident over the past year.
Note
Here the 's is the helper verb of the perfect, so a past participle follows it: he's worked, he's grown, he's left. That participle is what separates it from the "he is" contraction. Watch participles that double as adjectives, such as he's gone or he's finished. Either reading can fit them, and only the context settles which one is meant.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of he's apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.