's instead of has

[Nightmare85]

Hello,
Usually we someone says: "It's been a while.", he means "It has been a while."
When we say "It's a great job.", we mean "It is a great job."

Now the main question:
Can we also say:
"The man's spoken." instead of "The man has spoken." :?:

Can we only use an 's instead of a has when there is a been?

Cheers!

 

[TheParser]

Hello,
Usually we someone says: "It's been a while.", he means "It has been a while."
When we say "It's a great job.", we mean "It is a great job."

Now the main question:
Can we also say:
"The man's spoken." instead of "The man has spoken." :?:

Can we only use an 's instead of a has when there is a been?

Cheers!

***NOT a teacher***I believe you can use 's for "has" as long as it doesn't confuse the listener. Let's try a few: Nightmare's done a great job./Tom's already eaten breakfast/Is it true that Mona's divorced John? Thank you.

 

[sarat_106]

***NOT a teacher***I believe you can use 's for "has" as long as it doesn't confuse the listener. Let's try a few: Nightmare's done a great job./Tom's already eaten breakfast/Is it true that Mona's divorced John? Thank you.

Your logic is quite sound and that is also the accepted practice. However there is prescriptuve rule; the contacted form is not used where has/have is used as a full verb; as:
Nightmare has a good breakfast. not - Nightmare's a good breakfast.
We have a new car. not - We've a new a car.