Contractions

English Language Arts, Grade 3

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A contraction is one word. It is made by putting together two words. One or more letters are missing from the second word. An apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters. did + not = didn’t Notice that the apostrophe takes the place of the o in not. they + are = they’re An apostrophe takes the place of the a in are. Here are some contractions in which two letters are missing: they + will = they’ll An apostrophe takes the place of the wi in will. you + have = you’ve An apostrophe takes the place of the ha in have. cannot = can’t An apostrophe takes the place of the no. The contraction ’s can stand for has or is. You can tell which it is by the context. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Donna. (It has been a long time since I’ve seen Donna.) There’s a ship in the port. (There is a ship in the port.) The contraction for will not is strange. It is the only one where the first word changes, too. will + not = won’t Never forget to use the apostrophe. If you do, the contraction may look like a different word, as in: shell instead of she’ll were instead of we’re Ill instead of I’ll Contractions Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 92-4015
Write the contraction for each pair of words. you’re 1. you are = _________________ 2. will not = _________________ 3. I have = _________________ 4. should not = _________________ 5. she is = _________________ 6. cannot = _________________ 7. they are = _________________ 8. he will = _________________ 9. would have = _________________ 10. there has = _________________ 11. you will = _________________ 12. we are = _________________ we are they are you are he will she is Contractions Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 92-4015