1. Using apostrophes to spell shortened forms of words.
Eg Year 3 Term 2 and Term 3.

2. do not donot donot don t don’t Start with two words.
What’s the shortened form? ie don’t
How do we get there?
Move words together.
Which letter disappears? RED.
What do we put in its place?
don’t

3. can not
cannot
cannot
can t
Note that an N also disappears.
can’t

4. you are
youare
youare
you re
Note: Easily confused with YOUR.
you’re

5. could not couldnot couldnot couldn t couldn’t
A common error is for the apostrophe to be placed before the N.
couldn’t

6. would not wouldnot wouldnot wouldn t wouldn’t
A common error is for the apostrophe to be placed before the N.
wouldn’t

7. I will
Iwill
Iwill
I ll
I’ll

8. we will
wewill
wewill
we ll
Also he’ll, she’ll, they’ll etc
we’ll

9. It is Itis Itis It s It’s Note: (eg Year 4 Term 3.)
ONLY use an apostrophe if you can say “it is”.
The possessive its does NOT have an apostrophe.
It’s

10. they are theyare theyare they re they’re
Note: Often confused with THERE or THEIR homophones.
they’re

11. I am
Iam
Iam
I m
I’m

12. he would he had hewould hehad hewould hehad he d he d he’d he’d
Some contractions have two or more original starting points.
he’d
he’d

13. we’re we are we’ve we have he’s he is he has they’ve they have didn’t
What did these contractions start as?
Which letters are removed?
didn’t
did not

14. I’ve I have I’d I did I had doesn’t does not wasn’t was not haven’t
Note that the E stays in haven’t.
Wasent is a common error for wasn’t.
Can you think of any more?
Perhaps add another slide of your own.
haven’t
have not