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I have not been to the new pizza place. Do you know how to shorten 'have not'?

Apostrophes - Contractions (Adding 'Not')

Learn how contractions with not work, so can’t, didn’t and doesn’t help KS1 readers understand shorter, smoother sentences.

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(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Use doesn’t to squash “does not”, like “She doesn’t like peas,” and do not forget the sneaky e that disappears.

In KS1 English, children learn that contractions with not use an apostrophe to show missing letters. Understanding words like don’t and doesn’t helps them read and write more confidently.

Key Terms

Contraction: A shorter word made from two words, with missing letters shown by an apostrophe, like does not ? doesn’t.
Apostrophe: A punctuation mark (’) that shows where letters have been left out in contractions.
Negative: A word or phrase, like not or never, that shows something is not happening or not true.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are not contractions in KS1 English?

Not contractions are short forms like don’t (do not), didn’t (did not), and doesn’t (does not). They use an apostrophe to show the missing letters.

How do I explain doesn’t and don’t to children?

Show that doesn’t is used with he, she, it and singular nouns, while don’t is used with I, you, we, they and plural nouns. Use simple example sentences.

Why do some letters disappear in words like doesn’t?

In contractions, letters are dropped to make the word shorter. The apostrophe takes their place, like the missing o in does not ? doesn’t.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

Hasn't he got a big hat! In the word hasn't, which letter is missing out?

The word 'hasn't' is 'has' and 'not' pushed together. This style of hat is called a sombrero and can be bought in Mexico.

2 .

These bananas are not ripe. Which of these answers is the contraction for 'are not'?

arent'

aren't

aren'ot

are'not

The scientific name for bananas is musa sapientum, which means “fruit of the wise men.”

3 .

He won't stop playing his video game. Which of these words is not a contraction for 'not'?

won't

hasn't

don't

have

The word 'won't' is 'will not' contracted but as you can see, the word changes slightly - this is something that needs to be remembered.

4 .

Which of these answers is perfect?

He cant cross the bridge because it isn't safe.

He can't cross the bridge because it isnt safe.

He can't cross the bridge because it isn't safe.

He can't cross the bridge because it isnt' safe.

Remember, sentences can include more than one contraction.

5 .

She has not got much further to travel. Which of these answers is the contraction for 'has not'?

hasn't

hasnt

hasn'ot

has'nt

I wonder what she's got on her back.

6 .

She is not scared. Which of these contractions is correct for 'is not'?

is'nt

Isnt'

isn't

isnt

You must always include the apostrophe as this represents the missing letter.

7 .

She does not like the taste of that yogurt. Which of these contractions is correct for 'does not'?

doesn'ot

does'nt

does'n't

doesn't

Yogurt is believed to have originated thousands of years ago in Eastern Europe and Asia.

8 .

He was not allowed to eat my cake. Which of these answers is the contraction for 'was not'?

was'nt

wasn'ot

wasnt'

wasn't

Many weddings include a white cake but it was Queen Victoria who had the first white cake, that's why white icing is now called 'royal icing'.

9 .

Which of these answers is perfect?

He doesn't want to go on the roller coaster because he isnt very brave and can't handle heights.

He doesnt want to go on the roller coaster because he isn't very brave and can't handle heights.

He doesnt want to go on the roller coaster because he isnt very brave and cant handle heights.

He doesn't want to go on the roller coaster because he isn't very brave and can't handle heights.

There were three contractions in the sentence. Currently, the fastest roller coaster in the world is in Abu Dhabi.

10 .

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

You havent done your homework yet!

You havenot done your homework yet!

You haveno't done your homework yet!

You haven't done your homework yet!

Haven't is 'have' and 'not' contracted. The sentence would make sense with the words separated or contracted, it depends on the type of writing you are doing. If this was a serious letter, then you should write the two words out separately and not contract.

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Using apostrophes to contract words

Author: Finola Waller (MEd, Primary School Teacher & KS1 English Quiz Writer)