Apostrophes for missing letters
You learn to use an apostrophe for missing letters: don't, I'm, we're.
How to do the test
- Join the two words into one.
- Take out the letters that are missing.
- Put an apostrophe where they were.
A worked example
Type the short form of the words in brackets. He ___ swim. (cannot)
- Join the two words into one.
- The apostrophe shows where the letters are missing.
- Cannot becomes can't with one missing letter, n.
- The short form of cannot is can't.
More examples
Type the short form of the words in brackets. We ___ go outside. (will not)
- Join the two words into one.
- The apostrophe shows where the letters are missing.
- Won't is an exception: will not becomes won't.
- The short form of will not is won't.
Type the short form of the words in brackets. I ___ eat that. (would not)
- Join the two words into one.
- The apostrophe shows where the letters are missing.
- The short form of would not is wouldn't.
Try it yourself
Type the short form of the words in brackets.
He ___ swim. (cannot)
Type the short form of the words in brackets.
We ___ go outside. (will not)
Watch out
You put the apostrophe where the two words meet, as in do'nt.
Put it where the letters are missing. In do not the o is missing, so it is don't.
Tips
- Will not is an exception: it becomes won't.
Why it works
A contraction joins two words into one and leaves out some letters. The apostrophe shows exactly where the letters are missing.