Expand a contraction

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil, or a browser text area. All named people/events/records are fictional learning inputs.
• Worked case: Prefix word: reread. Suffix word: teacher. Contraction: don’t. Sentence: After lunch, we read.
• Primary check: Prefix word: unkind. Suffix word: hopeful. Contraction: I’m. Sentence: We read a book.
• An adult may read every direction and answer choice aloud; learners may respond by speaking, pointing or drawing.

Learn the idea

A contraction shortens one word or combines words with an apostrophe marking omitted letters. Don’t expands to do not, I’m to I am, we’re to we are, and can’t to the single written word cannot. Expand the actual form before deciding its meaning.

Say the contraction, expand it into its two-word or full negative form and compare the spelling.

Example to read or listen to: Prefix word: reread. Suffix word: teacher. Contraction: don’t. Sentence: After lunch, we read. The answer is do not. The relevant input states: Contraction: don’t. This fits do not. A contraction shortens one word or combines words with an apostrophe marking omitted letters. Don’t expands to do not, I’m to I am, we’re to we are, and can’t to the single written word cannot. Expand the actual form before deciding its meaning. Its without an apostrophe is a possessive form.

1. Read or listen to the worked example. Say what the reading or writing task asks you to find. An adult can help with unfamiliar words.
2. Say the contraction, expand it into its two-word or full negative form and compare the spelling.
3. Check the worked solution: do not. The relevant input states: Contraction: don’t. This fits do not. A contraction shortens one word or combines words with an apostrophe marking omitted letters. Don’t expands to do not, I’m to I am, we’re to we are, and can’t to the single written word cannot. Expand the actual form before deciding its meaning. Its without an apostrophe is a possessive form.
4. Try the question and the practice questions. Point to the words that helped you choose before checking the feedback.

Check your reasoning

Your answer is temporary and is not saved to an account. Download your current answer before leaving or reloading. Written work on paper or in another app stays in your own file.

Take it further

Optional extra practice: Decode and expand: Before lunch, we’re rereading a helpful note. Explain before, we are, read again and full of help. Read the sentence in two meaningful phrases without skipping any words. Practice this lesson’s skill as you complete the task. Use this idea to check your work: A contraction shortens one word or combines words with an apostrophe marking omitted letters. Don’t expands to do not, I’m to I am, we’re to we are, and can’t to the single written word cannot. Expand the actual form before deciding its meaning.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.