What grade are contractions taught in?

Contractions usually appear in second grade in US curricula, alongside apostrophes for possession. Simple ones like don't and I'm often show up in first grade reading, and the confusing pairs (it's / its, you're / your) are still being corrected into middle school.

How many contractions should a child know?

There is no fixed list. Most second and third grade programs cover roughly 30 to 40 common contractions built on not, is, am, are, will, have and would. This generator draws from that same core set.

Does the worksheet come with an answer key?

Yes. Turn on the answer key and it starts on a fresh page, so you can hand out the worksheet without it. Several answers also carry a one-line explanation of the rule being tested.

Contractions Worksheets

A contraction squeezes two words into one and puts an apostrophe where the missing letters used to be. Most children pick up don't and I'm quickly, then stall on won't, could've and the it's / its pair.

Settings

Grade level

Number of questions

About 1 page of paper.

Print the grade on the sheetTurn off when the level does not match the student’s year.

Printing opens your browser’s print dialog, where you can choose your printer or “Save as PDF”. The answer key starts on a fresh page, and only prints while it is showing.

Name: Date:

3rd Grade Contractions Practice

Contractions

Circle the correct answer.

1.
The dog wagged blank tail.
itsit's
2.
blank going to be late if we do not hurry.
We'reWereWear
3.
I blank know the answer to that one.
don'tdontdo'nt

Write the correct word on each line.

4.
should not = blank
5.
he is = blank
6.
cannot = blank
7.
they are = blank
8.
you have = blank
9.
I am = blank

Rewrite each sentence following the directions in brackets.

10.
I'm not sure where they went. (write the two words the contraction stands for)
11.
We have finished our project. (replace "we have" with a contraction)
12.
They are going to be here soon. (replace "they are" with a contraction)
13.
He'll be back at noon. (write the two words the contraction stands for)

Each sentence has at least one mistake. Write the sentence correctly.

14.
We did'nt hear the bell.
15.
The cat cant reach the top shelf.

Contractions: the rules these questions test

The apostrophe marks what was removed: do not becomes don't because the o is gone. That is why did'nt is wrong — the missing letter is the o, so the apostrophe belongs between the n and the t.
won't is the odd one out: Every other not-contraction keeps its first word intact: is not / isn't, could not / couldn't. Will not becomes won't, which has to be memorized rather than worked out.
it's / its is the one adults still get wrong: it's only ever unpacks to it is or it has. If the sentence still makes sense when you read it that way, keep the apostrophe. If it does not, you want its.
Possessive pronouns never take an apostrophe: hers, ours, yours, theirs and its are already possessive. her's and your's are not words.
would've is not would of: Spoken quickly, would've sounds exactly like would of. The written form is always the contraction of would have.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What grade are contractions taught in?: Contractions usually appear in second grade in US curricula, alongside apostrophes for possession. Simple ones like don't and I'm often show up in first grade reading, and the confusing pairs (it's / its, you're / your) are still being corrected into middle school.
How many contractions should a child know?: There is no fixed list. Most second and third grade programs cover roughly 30 to 40 common contractions built on not, is, am, are, will, have and would. This generator draws from that same core set.
Does the worksheet come with an answer key?: Yes. Turn on the answer key and it starts on a fresh page, so you can hand out the worksheet without it. Several answers also carry a one-line explanation of the rule being tested.