Apostrophes: Form Contractions
Basics on the topic Apostrophes: Form Contractions
Learn about contractions through fun English language grammar activities, video, and contraction exercises!
Contractions – Introduction
When we speak English to each other, we do not always use the same words as in writing. An example of special shortened words that we often use in speaking are contractions.
Contractions are words that we create by combining two words together in order to make a shorter word. Some examples of English contractions are don’t, I’m, or hasn’t.
We use contractions to make words shorter and easier to understand while speaking. We do not use contractions in formal writing or essays, but we can use them in informal and/or fictional writing.
Check out the linked video to learn more about formal and informal language.
Contractions – Rules
When learning about contractions, it is important to understand the rules of how they are formed. In contractions, one or several letters are replaced by a punctuation mark called an apostrophe.
When combining two words together to make a contraction, the first word always stays the same. The second word of the contraction gets one or some letters cut out. For example, when combining words have and not, the first word stays the same – have, while the second word loses a letter and becomes n’t. We use an apostrophe to replace the omitted letters. Then we combine two words.
After removing the letter or letters from the second word and adding an apostrophe, we need to re-read the contraction word to make sure it makes sense. The contraction that we get when combining have and not is haven’t.
Contractions – Examples
Let’s take a look at examples of common contractions. Can you find a contraction in the previous sentence? Correct, let’s is a contraction formed by combining word let and us.
There are many contractions in English, but the most common are the ones formed with pronouns or verbs to be, to have, and modal verbs. Check out this list of contractions to see examples:
| Long Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
| I am | I’m |
| I have | I’ve |
| you are | you’re |
| you have | you’ve |
| they are | they’re |
| they have | they’ve |
| she is | she’s |
| she has | she’s |
| he is | he’s |
| he has | he’s |
| it is | it’s |
| it has | it’s |
| is not | isn’t |
| have not | haven’t |
| are not | aren’t |
| has not | hasn’t |
| was not | wasn’t |
| had not | hadn’t |
| were not | weren’t |
| I will | I’ll |
| that is | that’s |
| will not | won’t |
| there is | there’s |
| can not | can’t |
| here is | here’s |
| could not | couldn’t |
| what is | what’s |
| should not | shouldn’t |
| where is | where’s |
| must not | mustn’t |
Contractions – Common Errors
When teaching contractions to kids, it is important to be aware of common errors that students are making when writing contractions. Some common mistakes include:
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- Confusing it’s and its.
- It’s is a contraction form of it is or it has: It’s a snake!
Its is a possessive adjective: My cat has lost its toy.
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- Confusing you’re and your.
- You’re is a contraction form of you are: You’re my best friend.
Your is a possessive adjective: Did you brush your teeth?
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- Confusing they’re, their, and there.
- They’re is a contraction form of they are: They’re amazing singers.
- Their is a possessive adjective: Their costumes were the best.
- There is an adverb: I went there to meet my classmate.
Reviewing contraction rules and completing exercises will help you avoid these common mistakes.
Contractions – Summary
Let’s review everything we have learned about contractions in writing.
Contractions are a shorter way to say two words by combining them. When creating contractions, we use a punctuation mark, called an apostrophe.
We can create contractions following these three steps: * First, keep the first word the same. * Next, cut one or several letters of the second word. * Then, replace the cut-out letters with an apostrophe. * Finally, combine the words. Read the contraction word to make sure it makes sense.
Now you know everything about contractions in English. Would you like more contraction practice? Check out our video, learning English contractions worksheets, and grammar contractions activities for children.
Frequently Asked Questions about Contractions
Transcript Apostrophes: Form Contractions
: "You have found it, Dee! The PERFECT place for us to set up our tent." : "And we have a new, bigger tent!" : "There are words and symbols on this tent though, do you know what they mean?" Let's help Dee and Kala understand the words by learning about apostrophes, form contractions. Have you heard about contractions before? Contractions are a shorter way to say two words by combining them. You may have heard of some contractions such as DON'T or HASN'T. In contractions, one or some letters get replaced by a punctuation mark... called an apostrophe that looks like THIS. When we put an apostrophe mark in a word, it ALWAYS goes up in the air. The first word of a contraction is always the same, but the SECOND word gets one or some letters cut out. For example, we can combine the words would and not to create a contraction. We keep the first word, would the same. But we cut one of the letters in the second word, not. Then, we need to put the apostrophe in the place that the letters were. Finally, we re-read our contraction to make sure that it makes sense. Do you know what word this contraction makes? This contraction is WOULDN'T. Now that we've learned a bit about contractions, let's help Dee and Kala set up their tent. They need to connect the rope and hook in the ground by creating a contraction with the words she and is. We can start by keeping the FIRST word, she. Next, we need to cut one or some of the letters out of the second word, here we cut the letter . Then, we need to put the apostrophe in the place that the letters were. Finally, we re-read the word to make sure that it makes sense. What contraction do these two words make? This contraction is the word SHE'S. We can help Dee and Kala with their next contraction too! It looks like they need to combine the words did and not to connect the next hook of their tent. Remember to start by keeping the FIRST word the same. Next, we need to cut one or some of the letters of the second word, here we'll cut the letter
Apostrophes: Form Contractions exercise
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What is a contraction?
HintsIn contractions, one or some letters get replaced by an apostrophe.
Two examples of common contractions are "don't" and "can't."
Don't combines do and not.
Can't combines can and not.
SolutionContractions are a shorter way to say two words by combining them.
In the image above, you can see how we can combine the words "he" and "is" to make the contraction "he's."
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Which two words make the contraction?
HintsRemember, when making a contraction we usually keep the first word the same.
For example, in the contraction "they're" the first word is "they." The whole word "they" is kept in the contraction.
In a contraction, one or some of the letters in the second word are cut out.
For example, the contraction"they're" is made out of the words "they" and "are." The letter "a" is cut out of the word "are."
SolutionThe image above shows the word pairs that make each contraction.
Contractions are a shorter way to say two words by combining them.
In contractions, the first word of a contraction is always the same, but the second word gets one or some letters cut out.
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What are the steps for making a contraction?
HintsRemember, we start to make a contraction by keeping the first word the same.
You put an apostrophe in a contraction after you cut one or some letters in the second word.
The last step is to re-read the contraction to make sure that it makes sense.
SolutionHere are the steps to making a contraction:
- Keep the first word the same.
- Cut one or some of the letters in the second word.
- Put the apostrophe in the place where the letters you cut were.
- Re-read the contraction to make sure that it makes sense.
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Can you write the contractions?
HintsRemember in a contraction, the first word is usually kept the same, but the second word gets one or some letters cut out.
This image shows you how to make the contraction "who's."
- We can start by keeping the first word "who."
- Next, we need to cut one or some of the letters in the second word. Here we cut the letter “i.”
- Then, we need to put the apostrophe in the place the letters were.
- Finally, we re-read the word to make sure that it makes sense.
Don't forget to include an apostrophe mark ('). When we put an apostrophe mark in a word, it always goes up in the air.
SolutionThe image above shows how to make each contraction.
To make the contraction "hadn't":
- We can start by keeping the first word "had."
- Next, we need to cut one or some of the letters in the second word "not." Here we cut the letter “o.”
- Then, we need to put the apostrophe in the place the letters were.
- Finally, we re-read the word to make sure that it makes sense.
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What contraction can you make?
HintsRemember, when creating contractions, the first word usually stays the same.
Next, we need to cut one or some of the letters in the second word.
Remember that a contraction always has an apostrophe mark ('). When we put an apostrophe mark in a word, it always goes up in the air.
The apostrophe mark goes in the place of the missing letter or letters.
SolutionThe image above shows how to make the contraction "wasn't."
- We can start by keeping the first word "was."
- Next, we need to cut one or some of the letters in the second word "not". Here we cut the letter “o.”
- Then we need to put the apostrophe in the place the letters were.
- Finally, we re-read the word to make sure that it makes sense.
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Which words could be made into contractions?
HintsIn the first sentence, the words "There" and "is" could be made into the contraction "There's."
One of the two words used to make a contraction is always a verb.
For example, the verb "is" can be found in many contractions.
Look at the verbs in each sentence, can you make a contraction using them and one of the words next to them?
The word "not" is used to make many contractions.
For example, the contraction "haven't" is made using the words "have" and "not."
SolutionThe picture above shows each of the word pairs that can be made into a contraction.
- "there" and "is" can be combined to make the contraction "there's"
- "do" and "not" can be combined to make the contraction "don't"
- "it" and "is" can be combined to make the contraction "it's"
- "we" and "are" can be combined to make the contraction "we're"
