Contractions | Mr Spelling

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GRAMMAR & SPELLING

A contraction joins two words together, removes some letters, and places an apostrophe (') exactly where those letters were removed. This rap teaches 14 common contractions in groups: including I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're, and negatives like don't and wouldn't: with actions to help you remember each one.

Contractions in This Song

SPELLING WORDS

I am→I'm

I have→I've

you are→you're

you have→you've

he is→he's

she is→she's

it is→it's

we are→we're

they are→they're

they have→they've

that is→that's

there is→there's

do not→don't

would not→wouldn't

cannot→can't

Contractions to practise

I'm I've you're you've he's she's it's we're they're they've that's there's don't wouldn't can't

Spelling Word List

All 15 contractions from the rap: practise writing each one with an apostrophe in the right place!

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The Rule

HOW IT WORKS

Take Two Words: Remove Letters: Add an Apostrophe

word 1 + word 2 → word 1 ' short 2

To make a contraction: 1) Take two words and push them together. 2) Remove some letters from the second word. 3) Put an apostrophe (') exactly where those letters were removed. The apostrophe is a placeholder that says "letters are missing here." Example: I am → I'm (the "a" is removed and replaced with an apostrophe).

Tricky Contractions

WATCH OUT

These contractions can trip you up

won't

won't = will not: but the spelling changes from "will" to "wo". This is a historical quirk; the word "will" was once spelled "woll". The apostrophe marks where the "o" from "not" was removed, but the unusual spelling must simply be memorised.

it's vs its

it's (with apostrophe) = it is or it has. its (no apostrophe) = belonging to it. The apostrophe means "letters missing," NOT possession. This is the most common apostrophe mistake in English!

they're / their / there

they're = they are. their = belonging to them. there = a place. Three words that sound identical but are spelled differently and mean different things. Only they're is a contraction.

Lyrics

Contractions Rap Song: I Can't Stop Singing!

CHORUS

Here we go. Sing my song. Follow my actions.
Let's go and make contractions.
Take two words, make them one.
Take out some letters and we're almost done.
But where those letters used to be, mark it with an apostrophe.
Now you know about contractions. Copy my actions.

VERSE 1

I... am... I'm... I'm
I... have... I've... I've
you... are... you're... you're
you... have... you've... you've
he... is... he's... he's
she... is... she's... she's
it... is... it's... it's
we... are... we're... we're

CHORUS

Sing my song. Follow my actions.
Let's go and make contractions.
Take two words, make them one.
Take out some letters and we're almost done.
But where those letters used to be, mark it with an apostrophe.
Now you know about contractions. Copy my actions.

VERSE 2

they... are... they're... they're
they... have... they've... they've
that... is... that's... that's
there... is... there's... there's
do... not... don't... don't
would... not... wouldn't... wouldn't

OUTRO

Sing my song. Follow my actions.
Let's go and make contractions.
Take two words, make them one.
Take out some letters and we're almost done.
But where those letters used to be, mark it with an apostrophe.
Now you know about contractions. Copy my actions.

Mr. Spelling. What did you say? Bye-bye.