A contraction squashes two words into one. An apostrophe (’) shows where letters have been taken out: do not → don’t, I am → I’m, they have → they’ve.
Apa yang akan dipelajari anak anda
- Make contractions from two words
- Know which letters the apostrophe replaces
- Expand contractions back into two words
- Tell apart “it’s” (it is) and “its” (belonging to it)
The apostrophe marks the gap
In “don’t”, the apostrophe sits where the o of “not” used to be. A few contractions are rule-breakers: “will not” becomes “won’t”. And “its” without an apostrophe means “belonging to it” — the dog wagged its tail.
Contoh soalan
Berikut ialah beberapa soalan seperti dalam misi pertama. Bolehkah anda menjawabnya?
1. What is the short form of “it is”?
- its’
- its
- it’is
- it’s
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: it’s. it is → it’s. (Without the apostrophe, “its” means belonging to it.)
2. What is the short form of “is not”?
- isnt’
- isn’t
- is’nt
- isnot
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: isn’t. is not → isn’t.
3. What is the short form of “we are”?
- we’re
- were
- wer’e
- we’are
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: we’re. we are → we’re. (“Were” is a different word!)
Tip untuk orang dewasa
- Hunt for contractions in a favourite book and say the two full words.
- Write words on paper, cut out the missing letters and tape in an apostrophe.