What is a contraction?
A contraction is a shortened form of a word which comes from two words that have been put together.
For example:
can + not = cannot. The contraction (shortened) form of cannot is can't.
When we shorten a word we take out some letters and replace them with an apostrophe (').
The apostrophe shows where a letter or letters would be if the words were written in full.
Here are some more examples:
Did not = didn't (the ' replaces the letter o)
Has not = hasn't (the ' replaces the letter o)
I will = I'll (the ' replaces the letters wi)
It is = it's (the ' replaces the letter i)
I would = I'd (the ' replaces the letters woul)
For the next set of activities, you will be asked to choose the correct contraction of the underlined words.
Example:
Choose the correct contraction for the underlined words:
He will meet us there.
he'll / hew'l / hewil'l
The correct answer is he'll.
