A contraction shortens words by replacing one or more letters with an apostrophe. Many reading curriculums introduce this concept in second grade. Our reading program expects a second grade student to use an apostrophe to form both contractions and frequently occurring possessives.
Contractions
The following words are commonly used to form contractions.
| am | are | have | is, has |
| will or shall | would, had | us | not |
Contractions Lesson Plans
When possible, make learning new things entertaining. My daughter came home the other day so excited to tell me about the apostrophe fairy; he’s a close relative of the tooth fairy. She brought home a booklet that used both a fictional character and a story to reinforce the use of apostrophes in both contractions and possessives. It’s a great story that can be used when teaching contractions to help a child grasp and retain the concept.
Mr. Apostrophe, a tiny elf, enjoyed eating letters. Every time he ate a letter (or two) he would accidently leave his little curved finger print (an apostrophe).
If Mr. Apostrophe came upon the words let us, he would eat the letter “u” resulting in the word let’s. As you tell the story write down let’s and have your child or class locate his “finger print”?
Similarly if he came upon the words we will, he would eat both the letter “w” and “i” resulting in the word we’ll. Consider writing down the words, “we will” and then erase the letters that when removed form the contraction, we’ll.
Mr. Apostrophe began feeling guilty about taking letters that did not belong to him. So he decided to give the people he knew some gifts. He did not eat these letters but he did leave his little curved finger print.
- He left the townspeople books for their school. He wrote on the note, “School’s books.” Note: his curved finger print is between the “l” and “s.”
- He sent flowers to his teacher. He wrote on the note, “Mrs. B’s flowers.” As you tell the story write down Mrs. B’s flowers and have your child or class locate his “finger print.”
- He also drew a picture for his favorite bus driver. He wrote on the note, Mr. Smiths’ picture.”
List of Contractions
| AM | ||
|---|---|---|
| I am | I’m | Example: I’m a girl. |
| ARE | ||
|---|---|---|
| You are | you’re | Example: You’re funny. |
| We are | we’re | Example: We’re family. |
| They are | they’re | Example: They’re going to the store. |
| Who are | who’re | Example: Who’re you? |
| HAVE | ||
|---|---|---|
| I have | I’ve | Example: I’ve had too much fun. |
| You have | you’ve | Example: You’ve been a good friend. |
| We have | we’ve | Example: We’ve been to the park. |
| They have | they’ve | Example: They’ve been on the swings. |
| Could have | could’ve | Example: He could’ve caught a cold. |
| Would have | would’ve | Example: We would’ve worn a coat. |
| Should have | should’ve | Example: She should’ve put on a hat. |
| Might have | might’ve | Example: I might’ve asked another question. |
| Who have | who’ve | Example: Who’ve you spoken to? |
| There have | there’ve | Example: There’ve been a number of calls today. |
| IS, HAS | ||
|---|---|---|
| He is/ has | he’s | Example: He’s a nice boy. |
| She is/ has | she’s | Example: She’s a nice girl. |
| It is/ has | it’s | Example: It’s a nice day. |
| What is/ has | what’s | Example: What’s for dinner? |
| That is/ has | that’s | Example: That’s good news. |
| Who is/ has | who’s | Example: Who’s cooking tonight? |
| There is/has | there’s | Example: There’s no food in the house. |
| Here is/has | here’s | Example: Here’s a bunch of take out menus. |
| One is/has | one’s | Example: One’s plenty. |
| WILL (or SHALL) | ||
|---|---|---|
| I will | I’ll | Example: I’ll see you soon. |
| You will | you’ll | Example: You’ll be on time, right? |
| She will | she’ll | Example: She’ll be late. |
| He will | he’ll | Example: He’ll be early. |
| It will | it’ll | Example: It’ll be here soon. |
| We will | we’ll | Example: We’ll see you later. |
| They will | they’ll | Example: They’ll get there first. |
| That will | that’ll | Example: That’ll be great. |
| There will | there’ll | Example: There’ll be lots to see. |
| This will | this’ll | Example: This’ll be fun. |
| What will | what’ll | Example: What’ll we do? |
| Who will | who’ll | Example: Who’ll be there? |
| WOULD, HAD | ||
|---|---|---|
| I would/ had | I’d | Example: I’d like a glass of water. |
| You would/ had | you’d | Example: You’d prefer juice? |
| He would/ had | he’d | Example: He’d like a soda. |
| She would/ had | she’d | Example: She’d like milk. |
| We would/ had | we’d | Example: We’d like it soon. |
| They would/ had | they’d | Example: They’d like something to eat. |
| It would/ had | it’d | Example: It’d be difficult. |
| There would/ had | there’d | Example: There’d be a little delay. |
| What would/ had | what’d | Example: What’d you expect? |
| Who would/ had | who’d | Example: Who’d have known? |
| That would/ had | that’d | Example: That’d be great. |
| US | ||
|---|---|---|
| Let us | let’s | Example: Let’s help our teacher. |
Negative Contractions
| NOT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cannot | can’t | Example: I can’t open the door. |
| Do not | don’t | Example: Don’t move. |
| Is not | isn’t | Example: It isn’t safe. |
| Will not | won’t | Example: I won’t enter. |
| Should not | shouldn’t | Example: I shouldn’t go first. |
| Could not | couldn’t | Example: I couldn’t be second. |
| Would not | wouldn’t | Example: I wouldn’t want to be third. |
| Are not | aren’t | Example: Aren’t you coming? |
| Does not | doesn’t | Example: He doesn’t want to go. |
| Was not | wasn’t | Example: He wasn’t kidding. |
| Were not | weren’t | Example: They weren’t afraid. |
| Has not | hasn’t | Example: He hasn’t responded yet. |
| Have not | haven’t | Example: I haven’t got a clue. |
| Had not | hadn’t | Example: I hadn’t thought of that. |
| Must not | mustn’t | Example: I mustn’t get too upset. |
| Did not | didn’t | Example: He didn’t know. |
| Might not | mightn’t | Example: I mightn’t do it next year. |
| Need not | needn’t | Example: You needn’t worry about that today. |
Source: Fry, E.B., Ph.D. & Kress, J.E., Ed.D. (2006). The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists 5th Edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.
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