Lesson 411

Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Use the apostrophe in writing contractionsContractions are two or more words combined together with an apostrophe. Source: Lesson 7. The apostrophe shows that a letter or letters have been omitted. A pronounsA pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or a group of words used as a noun.
Source: Lesson 21 and a verbVerbs show action or state of being.
Source: Lesson 1 or a verb with the word "not" are the commonest contractions.

Examples:
you are = you're
do not = don't

Some contractions stand for more than one pair of words.

Example:
she is = she's
she has = she's

Three contractions are irregular.

shall not = shan't
will not = won't
cannot = can't

Instructions: Write the contractions of the following pairs of words.

1. we are - it is - you have - who is - has not

we're - it's - you've - who's - hasn't

2. I will - I am - she will - she shall - I shall

I'll - I'm - she'll - she'll - I'll

3. I have - we shall - they are - are not - did not

I've - we'll - they're - aren't - didn't

4. he is - you will - you are - is not - had not

he's - you'll - you're - isn't - hadn't

5. was not - have not - could not - we would - they will

wasn't - haven't - couldn't - we'd - they'll

6. should not - does not - there is - they have - you would

shouldn't - doesn't - there's - they've - you'd

7. were not - would not - that is - I had - will not

weren't - wouldn't - that's - I'd - won't