Introduction to Contractions
In this chapter, we are going to learn about a special job the apostrophe does. Sometimes, when we speak or write, we squash two words together to make them shorter and faster to say. These squashed words are called contractions.
Think of it like a "word sandwich"! We take two words, take out a few letters, and use a tiny mark called an apostrophe to show where those letters used to be. Learning this will help your writing sound more natural, just like the way you talk to your friends!
What is an Apostrophe?
An apostrophe looks like a comma, but instead of sitting on the line at the bottom, it floats in the air! In contractions, its job is to represent omitted letters. "Omitted" is just a fancy word for "left out."
How to Make a Contraction
Making a contraction is like a magic trick. Follow these steps:
1. Start with two words (like do and not).
2. Take away one or more letters (in not, we take away the o).
3. Put an apostrophe in the empty space where the letter was.
4. Squash the words together to make one new word (don't).
Quick Tip: Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! The more you see these words in your favorite books, the easier they will be to remember.
Common Contractions You Use Every Day
Here are some of the most common contractions we use in Year 1 and Year 2. The apostrophe is always placed exactly where the letter has been taken out.
Words using "not"
The word not usually loses its o when it joins another word.
• do not becomes don't
• can not becomes can't
• is not becomes isn't
• was not becomes wasn't
Words using "is" or "am"
These words often lose their first letter when they join with a pronoun (words like I, he, or she).
• I am becomes I'm (the a is gone!)
• he is becomes he's (the i is gone!)
• she is becomes she's
• it is becomes it's
Words using "will" or "are"
• I will becomes I'll (we took out the w and the i!)
• we are becomes we're (the a is gone!)
Did you know? The word won't is a bit of a rule-breaker. It is the contraction for will not, but the letters change quite a lot!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even grown-ups sometimes make mistakes with contractions! Here is what to look out for:
• Forgetting the apostrophe: If you write dont instead of don't, the word is missing its "hook." Always remember to put the apostrophe in!
• Putting the apostrophe in the wrong place: The apostrophe must go where the missing letters lived. For can't, the apostrophe goes between the n and the t because that is where the o used to be.
• Confusion with possession: We also use apostrophes to show that something belongs to someone (like the boy's hat). You can learn more about that in the chapter Apostrophes for singular possession.
The "It's" Check
If you aren't sure whether to use it's (the contraction), try saying "it is" in your head. If the sentence still makes sense, you need the apostrophe!
Example: "It's raining" makes sense as "It is raining," so use the apostrophe!
Summary Checklist
• A contraction is two words squashed into one.
• The apostrophe takes the place of the letters we leave out.
• Always check that the apostrophe is in the right spot (where the missing letter was).
• Using contractions makes your writing sound friendly and clear!
Quick Review: Can you spot the contraction in this sentence? "I'm going to the park because it isn't raining." (Answer: There are two! I'm and isn't).