B. Foundations of Language · Cursive, Spelling and Sentences

Contractions and Sound-Alike Words

B3.3 B2.2 B2.3 A1About 40 minutes

Learning goals

I can make a contraction by joining two words and putting an apostrophe where letters are missing.
I can tell what two words a contraction stands for.
I can choose correctly between sound-alike words: it's/its, they're/their/there, you're/your, who's/whose.
I can proofread my writing for apostrophes and sound-alike words.

Words to know

contraction
A short word made by joining two words and leaving out some letters, like can't for cannot.

apostrophe
A punctuation mark ( ' ). In a contraction, it shows where letters are missing.

homophones
Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings, like their and there.

proofread
To check your writing carefully for mistakes and fix them.

Squish the words!

When we talk, we squish words together: we say I'm instead of I am, and don't instead of do not. These squished words are called contractions.

In writing, a contraction uses an apostrophe ( ' ) to show where letters were left out. In Grade 2 you used apostrophes to show who owns something. Now apostrophes have a second job!

Making a contraction

How to make a contraction

Write the two words side by side, with no space.
Take out the letter or letters you don't say.
Put an apostrophe exactly where the letters were.

do not → donot → don't (the o in not is gone)

I will → Iwill → I'll (the wi is gone)

Family	Contractions
... not	isn't, aren't, wasn't, weren't, don't, doesn't, didn't, can't, couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't, haven't, hasn't
... am / is / are	I'm, he's, she's, it's, that's, there's, what's, who's, we're, you're, they're
... will	I'll, you'll, he'll, she'll, we'll, they'll
... have	I've, you've, we've, they've, could've, should've
... would	I'd, you'd, he'd, she'd, we'd, they'd

Contraction families

Special contractions

can't = cannot (one word, so take out no).
won't = will not. It changes in a special way: learn it by heart!
let's = let us.

Watch where it goes

The apostrophe goes where the letters are missing, not where the two words meet. It's didn't, not did'nt. Say it slowly: did-n't. The apostrophe replaces the o in not.

Worked example

Let's make contractions

Write the contractions for they are, should not and we have.

they are: drop the a → they're.
should not: drop the o in not → shouldn't.
we have: drop the ha → we've.

they're, shouldn't, we've

Sound-alike words (homophones)

Some contractions sound exactly like other words. These sound-alike words are called homophones. Writers mix them up all the time, so let's learn the tricks.

Word	Meaning	Example
it's	it is / it has	It's snowing!
its	belongs to it	The dog wagged its tail.
they're	they are	They're at the rink.
their	belongs to them	They forgot their skates.
there	a place (or there is)	Put it over there. There is a moose!
you're	you are	You're a great friend.
your	belongs to you	Is this your toque?
who's	who is / who has	Who's at the door?
whose	belongs to whom	Whose boots are these?

Homophones to know

Three words that sound the same. there has here inside it (a place), their shows owning, and they're un-squishes to they are.

The un-squish test

If you aren't sure, un-squish it! Read the sentence with the two long words.

The cat licked it's paw. → The cat licked it is paw? No! So write its.
Your late! → You are late! Yes! So write you're.

And for there: it has the word here inside it, and both tell about a place.

Worked example

Let's choose the right word

Choose: (Their / There / They're) going to put (their / there / they're) sleds over (their / there / they're).

First blank: They are going: un-squish works, so They're.
Second blank: the sleds belong to them: their.
Third blank: a place: there (it has here inside it).

They're going to put their sleds over there.

Just for fun

Proofreading riddle: What do you call it when your and you're get mixed up?

A homophone-y mistake! The un-squish test catches it every time.

Be a proofreader

Good writers check their work. Use this checklist when you finish writing:

Does every contraction have an apostrophe in the right place?
Did I use its/it's, your/you're, their/there/they're correctly? (Use the un-squish test.)
Do plurals have no apostrophe? (two cats, not two cat's)
Did I check my spelling, capitals and end marks?

Proofreading takes patience. It's normal to find mistakes. Finding and fixing them is what good writers do!

Hands-on activity

Contraction cards and proofreading patrol

You need: index cards or paper, a pencil, and a highlighter or crayon.

Make matching cards: on one card write two words (do not), and on another write the contraction (don't). Make 10 pairs.
Turn them all face down. Play a memory game: flip two cards. If they match, keep them!
Proofreading patrol: a grown-up writes this note with mistakes on purpose:

Their going to the park. Its sunny out. Dont forget you're mittens!

Use your highlighter to mark each mistake, then write the note correctly.
Look back at something you wrote this week. Patrol it for contractions and sound-alike words.

(Answer for step 3: They're going to the park. It's sunny out. Don't forget your mittens!)

Your turn

Write the contraction for do not.

Write the contraction for I am.

What two words make won't?

Fix it: She did'nt see the deer.

Choose: The bird built (its / it's) nest.

Choose: (Your / You're) going to love this book.

Choose: The kids put on (their / there / they're) boots.

More practice: warm-up

Write the contraction for can not (cannot).

Write the contraction for we are.

Write the contraction for I will.

What two words make isn't?

What two words make they've?

More practice: on your own

Write the contractions for could not, she is and you have.

Choose: (It's / Its) going to be a cold night.

Choose: Put the box over (their / there / they're).

Choose: (Who's / Whose) turn is it?

Fix the mistakes: Were going to the fair, and were bringing you're sister.

Challenge

Use its and it's in one sentence.

Proofread and fix: The childrens' could'nt find there mitten's.

Why does let's have an apostrophe, but lets in My mom lets me stay up late doesn't?

Check your understanding

Quiz

What is the contraction for was not?

What two words make I'd?

Which is correct? The cat chased ___ tail.

Which is correct? ___ coming to my party?

Which is correct? ___ house is on Maple Street.

What does the apostrophe in don't show?

What two words make won't?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 3 students use apostrophes to indicate contractions (B3.3). Because contractions often sound like other words, we also teach the common homophone pairs (its/it's, their/there/they're, your/you're, whose/who's), which builds orthographic and morphological knowledge for spelling (B2.2, B2.3). The proofreading checklist supports Strand A transferable skills such as self-monitoring and persistence.

How to help at home:

Teach the un-squish test: read the sentence with the two full words. If it makes sense, use the contraction.
Let your child "catch" homophone mistakes in signs or notes you write on purpose.
Encourage a quick proofread of everything they write, using the checklist.

Common difficulties:

Apostrophe between the words (did'nt, could'nt). It goes where letters are missing.
its vs. it's: even adults struggle! its (owning) never has an apostrophe.
Apostrophes in plurals (mitten's). Plurals never need an apostrophe.
won't and can't are special: practise them as sight words.
I'd can mean I would or I had; context decides. Grade 3 children mostly use it for I would.