Contractions

What is this skill?

A contraction is two words joined together with an apostrophe taking the place of the missing letters. Do not becomes don't, with the apostrophe where the o used to be. It is becomes it's, I am becomes I'm, we are becomes we're, and they will becomes they'll. Second graders learn to read these, to say which two words each one stands for and to spell them correctly.

The practice asks both directions. Some questions give a pair and ask for the contraction, such as "Which contraction means do not?" with don't, didn't and doesn't. Others give the contraction and ask which two words make it, like can't, we're or she's. Wrong choices include its and is't for it's, and one question asks for the odd one, won't for will not. A few have children spell a contraction they hear, such as can't, it's, don't, isn't, we're and didn't. Two yes/no cards show a word and ask if the apostrophe is in the right spot, for example do'nt (it is not) and they're (it is).

Why it matters

Contractions are how we really talk, and they are all over the books children read. Misreading "I'll" or "they're" makes a sentence confusing, and misplacing the apostrophe in writing is one of the most common spelling mistakes in every grade.

The idea underneath is useful: the apostrophe marks a spot where letters are gone. A child who gets this does not have to memorize each contraction separately. They can work one out by asking which letters went missing.

Common mistakes

• Putting the apostrophe in the wrong place, as in "do'nt." The apostrophe goes exactly where the missing letter was. Ask which letter disappeared from not, and put the mark there.
• Mixing up it's and its. It's means it is, while its shows that something belongs to it. A quick test: say "it is" in the sentence, and if it fits, use it's.
• Skipping the apostrophe altogether, writing "dont" or "cant." Say that the apostrophe is part of the word.
• Trouble with the odd ones, like won't for will not. Won't does not look like will not at all, so treat it as a word to learn by heart.

How to help at home

• Write a pair of words on two small cards, such as "do" and "not," and slide them together. Cross out the o with a marker and write the apostrophe in its place.
• Say a contraction and ask for the two words, then switch. Keep the pace fast and light.
• Hunt for contractions in a page of a favorite book and read each one as two words, then as one.
• Ask your child to spell a contraction aloud, saying "apostrophe" for the mark. It reinforces where the mark goes.

Worked examples

These are real questions from the Tutorsaurus contractions practice, with the answers worked out.

1. Example 1

   Which two words make "can't"?

   Choices: did not, cannot, could not

   Answer: cannot. Can't is short for cannot. The apostrophe takes the place of the n-o.

2. Example 2

   Is the apostrophe in the right spot?

   do'nt

   Answer: Wrong. The missing letter is the o in not, so the apostrophe goes between n and t: don't.

3. Example 3

   Spell the word you hear.

   The app reads this aloud: “didn't”

   Answer: didn't. The word "didn't" is spelled d-i-d-n-'-t. Did plus not. The apostrophe replaces the o in not.

Printable worksheet (PDF) — one page of questions from this practice that work on paper, easier ones first, with an answer key on page 2. Free to print, no sign-up.