Contractions

Contractions Challenge

Flex your brain muscle with your contractions knowledge

Poll

A contraction is a word or phrase that has been shortened by dropping one or more letters. In writing, an apostrophe is used to indicate the place of the missing letters. Contractions are commonly used in speech (or written dialogue), informal forms of writing, and where space is at a premium, such as in advertising.

• Thumbs Up

• Thumbs Down

Open Ended

Write a complete sentence using the contraction I've.

(I've = I have)

Poll

We rely on contractions all the time in normal conversation. When people speak to each other, there is typically an expectation that they will use contractions (can't, won't, shouldn't) whenever they can, as doing so saves time.

Some people are under the impression that contractions should never appear in writing, but this belief is mistaken. The use of contractions is directly related to tone.

Did you learn something new about contractions?

• YES

• NO

Multiple Choice

What is the contraction for "are not?"

• ourn't

• aren't

• ar'nt

Multiple Select

What is the contraction for "that is?"

• the's

• that is

• that's

• tha's

Poll

In informal writing (from text messages and blogs to memos and personal essays), we often rely on contractions to maintain a colloquial tone. In more formal writing assignments (such as academic reports or term papers), avoiding contractions is a way of establishing a more serious tone.

Before deciding whether to use contractions in a writing assignment, consider your audience and your purpose for writing.

• That's good the know!

• Very interesting contraction fact.

• I'm still a long way from formal writing assignments.

Multiple Choice

Choose the contraction for cannot...

• can not

• cn't

• can't

• couldn't

Multiple Select

What is the contraction for "we are?"

• w're

• we're

• were

• we'are

Poll

Watch out for the homonyms who's and whose; the contraction is "who is" or "who has," and the whole word is possessive, as in "Whose car is that?" And of course, if you're visiting the South, you'll likely hear the colloquial "y'all" for "you all."

• Interesting

• Cool

• Yawn

Multiple Choice

Select the contraction for there and is..............

• the's

• thr's

• there's

• there is

Poll

In the following list, you'll find a few more contractions.

aren't = are not

couldn't = could not

could've = could have

didn't = did not

doesn't = does not

hadn't = had not

hasn't = has not

he'd = he had; he would

he'll = he will; he shall

he's = he is; he has

I'd = I had; I would

I'll = I will; I shall

I'm = I am

isn't = is not

• AWESOME!

• I know all those contractions.

Multiple Choice

What is the contraction for do and not?

• doughnut

• don't

• do't

• didn't

Multiple Select

What is the contraction for let and us?

• lettuce

• lots

• let's

• lets