Contractions — 2nd Grade Lesson
Students will form and read contractions and place the apostrophe where letters were removed.
2nd Grade · Contractions · ~15 min lesson
What is a contraction?
A contraction squeezes two words into one, using an apostrophe to show where letters were removed.
do not → don’t I am → I’m
The apostrophe marks the missing letters
The apostrophe sits exactly where the letters were taken out.
do not → don’t (the ‘o’ is gone) I am → I’m (the ‘a’ is gone)
Common contractions
| Two words | Contraction |
|---|---|
| do not | don’t |
| I am | I’m |
| you are | you’re |
| we are | we’re |
| they are | they’re |
| cannot | can’t |
| will not | won’t |
| is not | isn’t |
| I will | I’ll |
| you will | you’ll |
it’s vs. its
The trickiest pair:
- it’s = it is (a contraction)
- its = belongs to it (a possessive, no apostrophe)
Test: if you can say “it is,” use it’s.
It’s raining. (It is raining ✓) The dog wagged its tail. (The dog wagged it is tail ✗)
Reading contractions
When reading, expand the contraction mentally: don’t → do not, we’re → we are. The meaning stays the same, just faster to say.
How to practice at home
- Match the pair: “What two words make ‘can’t’?”
- Name the missing letters: “Which letters did the apostrophe replace?”
- It’s or its? Say the sentence both ways to check.
- Contraction hunt: find them in books and expand each one.
Practice with the exercises above, then download these free printable worksheets:
Practice Exercises
Try these on your own, then reveal the answer to check.
What is the contraction of 'do not'?
💡 The apostrophe replaces the missing 'o' in not.
What is 'I am' as a contraction?
💡 The apostrophe replaces the 'a'.
Expand 'we're'.
💡 The apostrophe stands for the missing 'a'.
Which is correct: 'it's raining' or 'its raining'?
💡 Try 'it is raining' — it fits, so use it's.
What two words make 'you'll'?
💡 The apostrophe replaces 'wi'.
Where does the apostrophe go in 'cant'?
💡 It replaces the missing 'no' of 'not'.
Printable Worksheets
Put this lesson into practice with free, printable worksheets — each with an answer key.
Before You Start
- Sight words like do, can, will, is
- Complete sentences
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Placing the apostrophe between the two words instead of where letters were removed
- Confusing it's (it is) with its (belongs to it)
What to Learn Next
Browse more Contractions worksheets or explore all 2nd Grade worksheets.
Related Worksheets
Contractions Worksheet
A contraction joins two words into one with an apostrophe. Write the contraction for each pair.
Pronouns Worksheet: He, She, It, They
A pronoun takes the place of a noun. Replace the underlined noun with the right pronoun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a contraction?
A contraction is two words squeezed into one, with an apostrophe marking the letters that were removed. Do not → don't, I am → I'm.
How do I know where the apostrophe goes?
The apostrophe goes exactly where the missing letters used to be. In 'don't' the apostrophe is where the 'o' of 'not' was removed.
Original & reviewed. Every worksheet is created in-house from a grade-level skill brief, checked for a correct answer key, and reviewed for grade-appropriateness. Our editorial policy.