Grammar: Apostrophes for Contractions
B1 Punctuation: Using Contractions like 'isn't' & 'I'm'
What are Contractions?
An apostrophe ( ' ) has a second important job besides showing possession. It is also used to create contractions. A contraction is a shorter, more casual way of saying two words, where the apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters. They are extremely common in spoken English.
Common Contractions
| Original Words | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| is not | isn't | He isn't a student. |
| do not | don't | I don't like coffee. |
| I am | I'm | I'm Cambodian. |
| you are | you're | You're welcome. |
| he is / she is | he's / she's | She's my sister. |
| what is | what's | What's your name? |
Common Mistake: 'It's' vs. 'Its'
This is one of the most common punctuation mistakes in English. Learning the difference is an important step to improving your writing.
Use the apostrophe only when you can replace the word with 'it is' or 'it has'.
Example: It's a beautiful day. (It is a beautiful day.)
Use no apostrophe for the possessive form, just like 'his' or 'her'.
Example: The hotel is famous for its pool. (The pool belongs to the hotel.)
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise 1: Form the Contraction
Write the correct contraction for the words in parentheses.
- (She is) my teacher.
→ She's - (We do not) have a reservation for tonight.
→ We don't - (They are) from Australia.
→ They're - (Where is) the nearest ATM, please?
→ Where's
Exercise 2: Choose 'it's' or 'its'
Complete the sentences with the correct word.
- Look at that cat! Look at ___ long tail.
→ its - I can't go to the market because ___ raining.
→ it's - This is a great restaurant. ___ food is always delicious.
→ Its - I think ___ time to go home now.
→ it's
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Write a Quick Message
Imagine you are sending a short message to a friend on Telegram or WhatsApp. Write 3-4 sentences about your day. In your message, you must use at least five different contractions (e.g., I'm, don't, it's, isn't, she's, etc.).
Key Vocabulary
- Contraction A shortened form of two words, where an apostrophe shows the missing letters.
- Informal Writing Writing for everyday, casual purposes, such as in a message to a friend.
- Possessive Showing ownership or that something belongs to someone or something.