Apostrophe Rules for Contractions

A contraction is a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of a word, syllable, or word group, created by omission of internal letters and sounds.

The apostrophe is used to show the contraction of words in a sentence.

Examples:

• aren’t – are not
• can’t – cannot
• couldn’t – could not
• didn’t – did not
• doesn’t – does not
• don’t – do not
• hadn’t – had not
• hasn’t – has not
• haven’t – have not
• he’d – he had; he would
• he’ll – he will; he shall
• he’s – he is; he has
• I’d – I had; I would
• I’ll – I will; I shall
• I’m – I am
• I’ve – I have
• isn’t – is not
• let’s – let us
• mightn’t – might not
• mustn’t – must not
• shan’t – shall not
• she’d – she had; she would
• she’ll – she will; she shall
• she’s – she is; she has
• shouldn’t – should not
• that’s – that is; that has
• there’s – there is; there has
• they’d – they had; they would
• they’ll – they will; they shall
• they’re – they are
• they’ve – they have
• we’d – we had; we would
• we’re – we are
• we’ve – we have
• weren’t – were not
• what’ll – what will; what shall
• what’re – what are
• what’s – what is; what has
• what’ve – what have
• where’s – where is; where has
• who’s – who had; who would
• who’ll – who will; who shall
• who’re – who are
• who’s – who is; who has
• who’ve – who have
• won’t – will not
• wouldn’t – would not
• you’d – you had; you would
• you’ll – you will; you shall
• you’re – you are
• you’ve – you have

Example Sentences:

• It’s rain outside.
• I’ll be there.
• I haven’t met him before.
• I’m planning to write a book someday.
• She’s been working.
• Who’s at the door?
• They weren’t hungry, because they’d already eaten.
• I can’t believe it’s snowing again.