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I have ice cream. How do we shorten 'I have'?

Apostrophes - Contractions (Adding 'Have' and 'Had')

Learn how to use contractions with have and had, so sentences like “I’ve finished” and “I’d eaten” sound natural and easy to read in KS1 writing.

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Fascinating Fact:

Use “I’d” to squash “I had” (or “I would”) and let context help, like “I’d finished my lunch” (had) or “I’d like a turn” (would).

In KS1 English, children learn that apostrophes in contractions replace missing letters. Knowing when to use I’ve, I’d, we’ve, and they’d helps young writers read and write more confidently.

Key Terms

Contraction: A shorter word made by joining two words, with missing letters shown by an apostrophe, like I have ? I’ve.
Apostrophe: A punctuation mark (’) used here to show where letters have been removed.
Context: The other words in the sentence that help you decide if “I’d” means I had or I would.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are contractions with have and had in KS1 English?

Contractions with have and had are short forms like I’ve (I have), we’ve (we have), I’d (I had/I would), they’d (they had/they would), using an apostrophe for missing letters.

How can I explain I’d, we’d, and they’d to KS1 children?

Show the full forms first (I had, I would) and then the shortened form (I’d). Read sentences aloud and ask children which meaning fits best using the rest of the sentence.

How do you tell if I’d means I had or I would?

Look at the verb after I’d. If it is a past participle like “finished” or “eaten”, it usually means I had. If it talks about a future choice or wish, it usually means I would.

Try These Related Quizzes

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1 .

Which words cannot be contracted?

they had

they have

you is

you have

You can contract the word 'is' to 'he' or 'she' like so - he's or she's.

2 .

Which of these sentences is correct, with the correct use of a contraction?

We've had a great time in the snow.

We'have had a great time in the snow.

We have had a great time in the snow.

We've'd a great time in the snow.

The last sentence is wrong because you can only contract two words together, not three.

3 .

Which of these sentences is perfect?

I should've blown fewer bubbles because Ive now run out of breath!

I shouldve blown fewer bubbles because I've now run out of breath!

I should'ave blown fewer bubbles because I've now run out of breath!

I should've blown fewer bubbles because I've now run out of breath!

A sentence can have more than one contraction in it. In fact, you can write as many contractions as you like. Just make sure your sentence still makes sense.

4 .

Which of these sentences is correct, with the correct use of a contraction?

You'ave filled the bin too high.

You'e filled the bin too high.

Youh've filled the bin too high.

You've filled the bin too high.

One recycled glass bottle could save enough energy to power a computer for twenty five minutes.

5 .

Which words cannot be contracted?

we had

she have

you had

I had

Contractions were around in the sixteenth century, that's over five hundred years ago!

6 .

Which sentence is perfect?

Theyve told her she can fly tomorrow but I'd prefer her to wait a year or two.

They've told her she can fly tomorrow but Id prefer her to wait a year or two.

They've told her she can fly tomorrow but I'd prefer her to wait a year or two.

They'ave told her she can fly tomorrow but I'd prefer her to wait a year or two.

The sun is over 300,000 times larger than earth.

7 .

You had better be careful. Which of these contractions is correct for 'you had'?

you'ad

you'had

yo'd

you'd

If you contract two words together, it is sometimes a good idea to read the sentence as if they have been separated just to make sure the sentence makes sense.

8 .

I have a long way to travel. Which of these contractions is correct for 'I have'?

I've

I'e

I'have

I'hv

Above sea level, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

9 .

Which of these sentences is correct, with the correct use of a contraction?

Theyh'd been walking for hours.

They'd been walking for hours.

They'd been walking'or hours.

They had been walking for hours.

We can't contract any two words we fancy, only certain words like the two we've been practising. If in doubt, look at the word and ask yourself if it seems familiar.

10 .

He should've been more careful. Which letters have the apostrophe replaced?