Basic Grammar Skills

Lesson 2: Spelling

Contractions

Contractions can be tricky. An apostrophe is used in place of a letter or letters. The following examples will help you understand more about contractions.

Contractions

An apostrophe is used in contractions. For example: it's stands for it is. The apostrophe is replacing one or more letters.

1. Can't - cannot

2. Isn't - is not

3. Won't - will not

4. I'll - I will

5 we've - we have

There are different ways that contractions are formed. They can be formed by using a pronoun and a verb, a verb plus not, there plus a verb, and words plus is and has.

Let's first examine pronouns plus a verb.

Contractions Using Pronouns and a Verb

Here are some examples of pronouns and a verb.

1. I will = I'll

2. I am = I'm

3. they have = they've

4. we have = we've

5. they will = they'll

Exercise

Directions: Change the following words to contractions.

1. I am =

2. I would or I had =

3. I will =

4. I have =

5. we have =

6. they will =

7. who is or who has =

8. that will =

9. let us =

10. it is or it has =

Now, let's look at contractions made from a verb plus not.

Contractions Using A Verb Plus Not

Here are some examples:

1. will not = won't

2. is not = isn't

3. were not = weren't

4. would not = wouldn't

5. should not = shouldn't

Exercise

Directions: Change the following words into contractions.

1. is not =

2. will not =

3. are not =

4. have not =

5. would not =

6. were not =

7. should not =

8. must not =

9. has not =

10. had not =

Contractions Using There Plus a Verb

Here are some examples of contractions using there plus a verb.

1. there is or there has = there's

2. there would, there had = there'd

3. there will = there'll

4. there have = there've

Exercises

Directions: Change the following contractions into the words.

1. there'd =

2. there's =

3. there've =

4. there 'll =

Now, let's look at the contractions that are formed from words and is and has.

Contractions Using Words and is and has

Here are some examples of contractions using words and is and has.

1. that is or that has = that's

2. what is or what has = what's

3. who is or who has = who's

4. here is or here has = here's

Exercises

Directions: Write the words that stand for the following contractions.

1. what's =

2. here's =

3. that's =

4. who's =

This information was found in the book "Scholastic Guides Checking Your Grammar" by Marvin Terban on pages 126-128.

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