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Contractions: Join Two Words With an Apostrophe

Learn how contractions such as don't, I'm, we'll and they've are made, where the apostrophe goes, why won't is special and how to tell it's from its.

Grades 3–5 · 15 practice questions · Original material
Learning objectiveBuild and expand common contractions by joining two words and replacing the missing letters with an apostrophe in the right place, remember the special spelling of won't, and choose correctly between it's and its, you're and your, and they're and their.

The idea

In the homophones lesson you met they're, the short way to write they are. They're is a contraction. A contraction joins two words into one shorter word, and an apostrophe (') takes the place of the letters that were left out.

Most contractions follow a pattern. With not, the o drops out: do not → don't, is not → isn't, did not → didn't. With am, are and is, the first letter of the second word drops out: I am → I'm, you are → you're, it is → it's. With will, have and would, more letters drop out: I will → I'll, I have → I've, I would → I'd.

The apostrophe goes exactly where the letters were removed, not where the two words meet. In don't, the apostrophe sits between n and t because that is where the o was. Writing do'nt is a common mistake.

A few contractions are special. Will not becomes won't, not willn't. Cannot becomes can't. And watch for look-alikes: its with no apostrophe means belonging to it (the dog wagged its tail). It's with an apostrophe always means it is or it has. The same test helps with you're and your, and they're and their: if you can say the two long words instead, use the contraction.

Contractions make writing sound like talking, so they are common in stories, messages and dialogue. Some formal writing, such as a report, uses the full words instead.

Word bank

can't

contraction · KANT

can not (usually written cannot); the apostrophe replaces n and o

Example: I can't find my other mitten.

don't

contraction · DOHNT

do not; the apostrophe replaces o

Example: Don't forget your indoor shoes.

isn't

contraction · IZ-unt

is not; the apostrophe replaces o

Example: The bus isn't coming today.

didn't

contraction · DID-unt

did not; the apostrophe replaces o

Example: We didn't hear the alarm.

won't

contraction · WOHNT

will not; a special contraction that changes its spelling

Example: The clocks won't change again until March.

I'm

contraction · EYEM

I am; the apostrophe replaces a

Example: I'm ready to go sledding.

you're

contraction · YOOR

you are; the apostrophe replaces a

Example: You're next on the toboggan.

they're

contraction · THAIR

they are; the apostrophe replaces a

Example: They're building a snow fort.

we're

contraction · WEER

we are; the apostrophe replaces a

Example: We're going to the library after school.

it's

contraction · ITS

it is or it has; the apostrophe replaces i (or ha)

Example: It's snowing!

she's

contraction · SHEEZ

she is or she has

Example: She's the line leader today.

I'll

contraction · EYEL

I will; the apostrophe replaces wi

Example: I'll shovel the steps.

we'll

contraction · WEEL

we will; the apostrophe replaces wi

Example: We'll meet at the front doors.

I've

contraction · EYEV

I have; the apostrophe replaces ha

Example: I've finished my reading log.

they've

contraction · THAYV

they have; the apostrophe replaces ha

Example: They've packed the bus.

I'd

contraction · EYED

I would or I had; the apostrophe replaces woul or ha

Example: I'd like a hot chocolate, please.

let's

contraction · LETS

let us; the apostrophe replaces u

Example: Let's build a snowman.

its

possessive pronoun · ITS

belonging to it; NOT a contraction, so no apostrophe

Example: The snowman lost its carrot nose.

Worked examples

Example 1 · Build a contraction

Make a contraction from did not.

  1. Write the two words: did not.
  2. Join them and remove the letter that drops out with not: the o.
  3. Put the apostrophe where the o was: didn't.

didn't

Example 2 · Expand a contraction

What two words make they've?

  1. The first part is they.
  2. 've is what is left of have after h and a are removed.
  3. Read it back: they have.

they have

Example 3 · It's or its?

Choose: "The rink opened ___ doors at noon."

  1. Test it's by saying it is: 'The rink opened it is doors' makes no sense.
  2. So the word means belonging to it.
  3. Belonging to it is its, with no apostrophe.

its

Example 4 · Fix the apostrophe

Correct the spelling: "We sho'uldnt go yet."

  1. The two words are should not.
  2. The o in not is the missing letter.
  3. Put the apostrophe between n and t: shouldn't.

shouldn't

Example 5 · The special one

Make a contraction from will not.

  1. The pattern would give willn't, but English does not use that word.
  2. Will not has its own special contraction.
  3. Remember it as a word to learn by heart.

won't

Common mistakes

Putting the apostrophe where the two words meet: "do'nt", "is'nt".

Why this fails: The apostrophe marks the missing letter. In do not, the o is missing, so the apostrophe goes between n and t: don't.

Writing it's when you mean belonging to it.

Why this fails: It's always means it is or it has. For belonging, use its with no apostrophe, like his and hers.

Writing "willn't".

Why this fails: Will not has a special contraction: won't.

Mixing up you're and your.

Why this fails: Say you are. If it fits, write you're. If you mean belonging to you, write your.

Forgetting the apostrophe completely: "dont", "Im".

Why this fails: Without the apostrophe, the word is spelled wrong, and some words change meaning: well is not we'll.

Foundation

Foundation practice

Build each contraction and put the apostrophe where the letters were removed.

Choose

1. Which is the contraction for do not?

  1. do'nt
  2. dont
  3. don't
  4. d'ont
Choose

2. Which is the contraction for I am?

  1. I'm
  2. Im
  3. I'am
  4. Iam'
Expand

3. What two words make we'll?

  1. we all
  2. we are
  3. we well
  4. we will
Choose

4. Which is the contraction for will not?

  1. willn't
  2. won't
  3. wil'nt
  4. wont
Expand

5. What two words make they've?

  1. they are
  2. they will
  3. they have
  4. they love

Practice

Practice practice

Use the say-it-long test to choose the right word.

It's or its?

6. "___ cold outside, so wear your toque."

  1. It's
  2. Its
  3. Its'
  4. It
It's or its?

7. "The puppy chased ___ tail."

  1. it's
  2. its'
  3. it is
  4. its
You're or your?

8. "___ going to love the sledding hill."

  1. Your
  2. You're
  3. Youre
  4. Yore
They're or their?

9. "The students put ___ boots on the boot tray."

  1. they're
  2. there
  3. their
  4. theyr
Fix it

10. Correct the spelling: "I could'nt find my skates."

Build it

11. Write the contraction for let us, then use it in a sentence about snow.

Think

Think practice

Explain the rule, not just the answer.

Explain

12. Why does the apostrophe in isn't go between n and t, not between s and n?

Meaning

13. "She's finished her book." What does she's mean here?

  1. she has
  2. she is
  3. she was
  4. she will
Spot the error

14. Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?

  1. The dog wagged it's tail.
  2. I cant come today.
  3. Theyre at the park.
  4. We're leaving in five minutes.
Choose the style

15. Your class is writing a formal report for the school newsletter. Should you write don't or do not?

  1. don't
  2. do not
  3. dont
  4. do'nt

Answer key

  1. 1. don't
    The o in not drops out, and the apostrophe goes in its place, between n and t. Do'nt puts it where the words meet, and dont forgets it.
  2. 2. I'm
    The a in am drops out, so the apostrophe goes between I and m. Im has no apostrophe, and I'am keeps the a that should be removed.
  3. 3. we will
    'll is what is left of will. Well without an apostrophe is a different word, and we'll is not we are (that is we're).
  4. 4. won't
    Will not is special: it becomes won't. Willn't and wil'nt follow the usual pattern but are not real words, and wont has no apostrophe.
  5. 5. they have
    've is left from have. They've is not they are (they're) or they will (they'll).
  6. 6. It's
    Say it long: It is cold outside. That fits, so use the contraction it's. Its means belonging to it, which does not fit here.
  7. 7. its
    Say it long: The puppy chased it is tail. That does not fit, so the word means belonging to it: its, with no apostrophe.
  8. 8. You're
    Say it long: You are going to love the sledding hill. That fits, so use you're. Your means belonging to you.
  9. 9. their
    Say it long: The students put they are boots... That does not fit, so you need the word meaning belonging to them: their.
  10. 10. I couldn't find my skates.
    Could not loses the o in not, so the apostrophe goes between n and t: couldn't.
  11. 11. let's — for example: Let's build a snow fort.
    The u in us drops out, and the apostrophe goes in its place: let's. (Lets without an apostrophe means allows.)
  12. 12. Because the apostrophe marks the missing letter, and the missing letter is the o in not, which came between n and t.
    The apostrophe is a placeholder for letters that were removed, not a joining mark.
  13. 13. she has
    'She is finished her book' does not make sense, but 'She has finished her book' does. She's can stand for she is or she has, so read the rest of the sentence.
  14. 14. We're leaving in five minutes.
    We're means we are, and the apostrophe replaces the a. The dog wagged it's tail should be its; I cant should be can't; Theyre should be They're.
  15. 15. do not
    Contractions sound like talking, so they suit stories, messages and dialogue. Many formal reports use the full words. Both spellings are correct English; the choice is about style.

Related practice

Homophones: there, their and they'rePlurals: -s, -es or y to iEnglish hub