Contractions
A contraction is when we join two words into one shorter word and use an apostrophe (') to replace the missing letters. In P1, you learnt contractions like I'm, he's, don't, and can't. Now you will learn many more!
What You'll Learn
- How to recognise contractions and tell which two words they come from
- New contractions with not (isn't, aren't, wasn't, weren't, won't, hasn't, haven't, doesn't, didn't, shouldn't)
- New contractions with is, are, will, would, have (it's, they're, you're, I'll, we'll, they'll, I'd, we'd, I've, we've, they've)
When to Use
- When saying something is not true: "She isn't feeling well today." (isn't = is not)
- When talking about the future: "I**'ll** help you carry your books." (I'll = I will)
- When saying what already happened: "We didn't go to the hawker centre." (didn't = did not)
- When talking about more than one person: "They're playing at the playground." (they're = they are)
How to Form
We take two words and join them. The apostrophe (') replaces the missing letters.
Contractions with "not"
| Two Words | Contraction | Missing Letter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| is not | isn't | the "o" in not |
| are not | aren't | the "o" in not |
| was not | wasn't | the "o" in not |
| were not | weren't | the "o" in not |
| has not | hasn't | the "o" in not |
| have not | haven't | the "o" in not |
| does not | doesn't | the "o" in not |
| did not | didn't | the "o" in not |
| should not | shouldn't | the "o" in not |
| will not | won't | special -- changes the whole word! |
Watch out: "Will not" does not become "willn't." It changes to won't. This is the trickiest contraction!
Contractions with "is", "are", "will", "would", "have"
| Two Words | Contraction | Missing Letter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| it is | it's | the "i" in is |
| you are | you're | the "a" in are |
| they are | they're | the "a" in are |
| I will | I'll | "wi" in will |
| we will | we'll | "wi" in will |
| they will | they'll | "wi" in will |
| I would | I'd | "woul" in would |
| we would | we'd | "woul" in would |
| I have | I've | "ha" in have |
| we have | we've | "ha" in have |
| they have | they've | "ha" in have |
Key Rules
- The apostrophe always replaces missing letters: Find the missing letters first, then put the apostrophe in that exact spot. "are not" -- remove the "o" -- "aren't."
- "Won't" is special: "Will not" changes to won't, not "willn't." You just have to remember this one!
- "It's" means "it is": When you see "it's," it always means "it is" or "it has." Do not mix it up with "its" (which means belonging to it).
- You can always expand a contraction: If you are not sure what a contraction means, try expanding it back to two words. "They're happy" becomes "They are happy."
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| He was'nt at school. | He wasn't at school. | The apostrophe replaces the "o" in "not" |
| I wo'nt do it again. | I won't do it again. | "Won't" is a special form -- no extra apostrophe |
| There going to the zoo. | They're going to the zoo. | "They're" means "they are" -- use the apostrophe |
| Its raining outside. | It's raining outside. | "It's" means "it is" -- you need the apostrophe |
Clue Words
Words that often form contractions with "not":
is, are, was, were, do, does, did, has, have, will, should, could, would
Words that often form contractions with pronouns:
is ('s), are ('re), will ('ll), would ('d), have ('ve)
How to spot a contraction:
Look for the apostrophe (') in the middle of a word. That tells you two words have been joined together.
Tip: To expand a contraction, cover the apostrophe with your finger and ask yourself: "What two words make this one word?" For example, cover the apostrophe in "aren't" -- you get "are" and "n't" which is "are not."
Practice Tips
- Expand and check: When you see a contraction, try writing the two full words next to it. "She isn't home" becomes "She is not home." Does it make sense? Then you got it right!
- Match the pairs: Write contractions on one set of cards and the full forms on another set. Mix them up and try to match them as fast as you can.
- Watch for tricky ones: Pay extra attention to "won't" (will not), "it's" (it is), and "they're" (they are). These are the ones students mix up the most.
- Read aloud: When you read a story, pause at each contraction and say the full form. This helps you remember what each contraction stands for.
Quick Reference
| Contraction | Full Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| isn't | is not | The MRT isn't crowded today. |
| aren't | are not | We aren't late for school. |
| wasn't | was not | It wasn't my turn to clean up. |
| weren't | were not | They weren't at the canteen. |
| doesn't | does not | She doesn't like bitter gourd. |
| didn't | did not | I didn't bring my water bottle. |
| hasn't | has not | He hasn't finished his homework. |
| haven't | have not | We haven't been to the library today. |
| won't | will not | I won't forget my PE shorts again. |
| shouldn't | should not | You shouldn't run near the pool. |
| it's | it is | It's time for recess! |
| you're | you are | You're a good friend. |
| they're | they are | They're playing catching after school. |
| I'll | I will | I'll wait for you at the gate. |
| we'll | we will | We'll go to the bookshop later. |
| they'll | they will | They'll be here soon. |
| I'd | I would | I'd like some chicken rice, please. |
| I've | I have | I've finished my spelling practice. |
| we've | we have | We've been to Sentosa before. |
| they've | they have | They've packed their bags already. |