Contractions


A contraction is a word made from a verb and another word. An apostrophe takes the place of any letters that are left out. A contraction can be made by joining a verb and the word not, a word and the verb is, and a pronoun and a verb. Here are some common contractions that students should know how to spell.

 
Verb + Not

 

aren’t – are not haven’t – have not
can’t – cannot isn’t – is not
couldn’t – could not mustn’t – must not
didn’t – did not shouldn’t – should not
doesn’t – does not wasn’t – was not
don’t – do not weren’t -were not
hadn’t – had not won’t – will not
hasn’t – has not wouldn’t – would not

 

Word + Is

 

here’s – here is what’s – what is
that’s – that is where’s – where is
there’s – there is who’s – who is

 

Pronoun + Verb

 

he’d – he would, he had they’ll – they will
he’ll – he will they’re – they are
he’s – he is, he has they’ve – they have
I’d – I would, I had we’d – we would, we had
I’ll – I will we’ll – we will
I’m – I am we’re – we are
I’ve – I have we’ve – we have
it’ll – it will who’ll – who will
it’s – it is, it has you’d – you would, you had
she’d – she would, she had you’ll – you will
she’ll – she will you’re – you are
she’s – she is, she has you’ve – you have
they’d – they would, they had

 

 

Sometimes the contractions he’ll, I’ll, it’s, there’s, they’re, we’d, we’ve, who’s, and you’re are confused with other words that sound the same. (heal/heel, aisle/isle, its, theirs, their/there, weed, weave, whose, your) Students must understand the different spellings and meanings of these words with the same sounds.


Posted in English.

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