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Apostrophes to Mark Omission

Apostrophes show missing letters in contractions. Spot what has been left out, spell it correctly, and avoid common mix ups in writing.

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Fascinating Fact:

I’d can mean I would or I had. Could’ve, should’ve, would’ve are have, not “of”.

In 11 Plus English, you must use apostrophes to show omission in contractions. Identify the missing letters, choose the correct contraction, and avoid confusing similar looking forms in reading and writing.

  • Apostrophe: A punctuation mark used to show missing letters in contractions and possession in nouns.
  • Contraction: A shorter form made by joining words and leaving out letters, such as do not becoming don’t.
  • Omission: The letters that are left out when a contraction is formed, shown by the apostrophe.
When should I use an apostrophe for omission?

Use an apostrophe to replace missing letters in contractions, such as I am becoming I’m and they have becoming they’ve. Do not use it in full words.

What is the difference between its and it’s?

It’s means it is or it has. Its shows possession, such as the cat licked its paws. Only the contraction takes an apostrophe.

Is could of correct in English?

No. The correct form is could have or the contraction could’ve. The sound of could’ve may resemble could of, but that spelling is wrong.

1 .
Write the word below in its contracted form.
Cannot
Cann't
C'not
C'nt
Can't
Learn this contraction - it is often written wrongly. Cannot can also be written as can not, but cannot is better
2 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
There is
There's
Ther's
Th'res
Their's
Don't confuse 'theirs' with there's; 'theirs' is a possessive pronoun: 'This house is theirs'
3 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
I am
Im
I'm
Im's
I m's
You should know this contraction
4 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
Who is
Who's
Whose
Wh's
Whose's
Don't confuse 'whose' with 'who's'; 'whose' is the possessive form of 'who': 'Whose is this rabbit?'
5 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
Has not
H'sn't
H'snot
Hasn't
Hn't
The apostrophe replaces the -o- in 'not' in such cases: 'is not - isn't; had not - hadn't'
6 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
Must not
M'stnot
Mustn't
Mus'n't
Mus'tn't
The apostrophe replaces the -o- in 'not' in such cases: 'is not - isn't; had not - hadn't'
7 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
I shall not
I sh'll n't
I shalln't
I sh'lln't
I shan't
'Shan't' is a bit of a slang term. It should be avoided in good writing: use it only in speech and written dialogues
8 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
Let us
Let's
L't us
Let'us
Lets'
'Let's' is often written as 'Lets' - which should be avoided
9 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
I have
I h've
Ive'
I've
Ih've
The -ha- is replaced by the apostrophe
10 .
Write the words below in their contracted form.
I would
I'd
Iw'd
I w'd
Id'
'I'd' can cause problems: 'I had - I'd' and 'I would - I'd'. The text should help you decide on the correct meaning of 'I'd'
Author:  Frank Evans (Specialist 11 Plus Teacher and Tutor)

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