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Contractions Worksheets

8 free PDFsUS Letter or A4Answer key includedNo login

A contractions chart with matching, write the contraction, write the two words, cut and paste with a no-cut twin, sentences and a sort.

Download the contractions worksheets

Contractions chart

Match and write contractions

The cut and paste page has a no-cut twin where children write the contraction instead.

Contractions in sentences

Print at 100% (actual size) for the cleanest tracing lines.

About these contractions worksheets

A contraction is two words pushed together into one shorter word, with an apostrophe where letters were left out: do not becomes don't, I am becomes I'm and we will becomes we'll. Contractions are everywhere in children's books, so 1st graders start reading them early, and they learn to write them in 1st and 2nd grade.

These contractions worksheets begin with a chart of 16 common contractions grouped by the word that gets shortened: not, is and am, will, and are. Children then match two words to their contraction, write the contraction, write the two words a contraction stands for, cut and paste contractions (or use the no-cut twin), write contractions in sentences and sort contractions by the word they shorten.

All pages print in black and white on US Letter or A4, and every page has an answer key on page 2.

Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.2.CUse an apostrophe to form contractions and frequently occurring possessives.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.3.GRecognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.4Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.4.CUse context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.

How to use them

  1. Start with the not group: can't, don't, isn't and didn't. Show that the apostrophe sits exactly where the o of not was.
  2. Add one group at a time: I'm and it's, then the will contractions, then the are contractions.
  3. Use matching and the cut and paste page to connect the two forms, then the write pages and sentences.

Teaching tips

  • Write the two words, then cross out the missing letters and put the apostrophe in their place. Children see where it goes.
  • it's means it is; its (no apostrophe) means belonging to it. Teach it's as a contraction first and leave its for later.
  • can't comes from cannot, which is usually written as one word.
  • won't (will not) changes its spelling. Teach it on its own, after the regular ones.

Questions teachers and parents ask

What is a contraction?

A contraction is a short way to write two words as one, with an apostrophe in place of the missing letters: do not is don't, I am is I'm, they are is they're.

Which contractions should 1st graders learn?

Start with the most common: can't, don't, isn't, didn't, I'm, it's, he's, she's, I'll, we'll, you'll, we're, you're, they're and let's. These are all on the chart.

What grade learns contractions?

Children read contractions in 1st grade and learn to write them in 1st and 2nd grade. Using an apostrophe to form contractions is a 2nd grade standard.

What does the apostrophe do?

The apostrophe shows where letters were taken out. In don't, it replaces the o in not.

Do these worksheets have answer keys?

Yes, every page has an answer key on page 2.