English Lesson 1

Contractions using NOT

Read these sentences.

  • Crickets do not bite.
  • Crickets don't bite.
  • They are not poisonous.
  • They aren't poisonous.

Which two words in the sentences above are joined to make the word don't and aren't? What letter is left out of the new word? What takes the place of that letter?

A contraction is a word that is made when two or more individual words are combined into a new word. An apostrophe is used to show where some of the letters have been left out.

Over the next two lessons you will learn two rules for forming contractions.

Rule 1 for Contractions  Verbs plus not can be shortened into contractions. Some examples are on the chart below:
are not aren't
do not don't
was not wasn't
can not can't
were not weren't
would not wouldn't
does not doesn't  
could not couldn't

Some exceptions to this rule include won't and shan't. In these words letters are changed to form the contractions.

will not won't
shall not shan't

Practice

Directions:  Put the apostrophe (') in the correct place.

  1. I havent been to the newsstand before.

  2. I cant read Musical America.

  3. I couldnt hear Chester.

  4. Dont you need to buy a newspaper?

  5. It isnt raining in Connecticut.

Directions:  In each blank write the contractions for the following words.

  1. should + not = ________________

  2. must + not = ________________

  3. can + not = ________________

  4. will + not = ________________

  5. has + not  = ________________

  6. have + not = ________________

  7. were + not = ________________

  8. was + not  = ________________

  9. could + not = ________________

  10. is + not = ________________

  11. might + not  = ________________

Directions:  Read each sentence below. Write the two words that make the contraction in each sentence.

  1. But there wasn't much business tonight. ________________

  2. Even the Sunday papers aren't going. ________________

  3. The cricket didn't move. ________________

  4. Mama's voice had a way of sounding very dry when she didn't believe something. ________________

  5. "Mario couldn't help it if nobody buys." ________________

Directions:  Multiple Choice

  1. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.
    1. Even Mama didn't dare disagree.
    2. When he wasno't collecting, he liked to sit at the opening of the drain pipe and watch the world go by.
    3. It wouldnot be safe to leave the register unlocked.
    4. I cann't sleep on Sundays.
       

 

-----------Key-----------

  1. haven't
  2. can't
  3. couldn't
  4. Don't
  5. isn't
  6. should + not = shouldn't
  7. must + not = mustn't
  8. can + not = can't
  9. will + not = won't
  10. has + not  = hasn't
  11. have + not = haven't
  12. were + not = weren't
  13. was + not  = wasn't
  14. could + not = couldn't
  15. is + not = isn't
  16. might + not  = mightn't
  17. was not
  18. are not
  19. did not
  20. did not
  21. could not
  22. a