English · Stage 4
Short Forms
Grammar & Punctuation — squeeze two words into one, and put an apostrophe where the letters go missing
✦ English📘 Stage 4 · S4⏱ ~10 min🧒 Ages 8–9★ Free to start
I can use an apostrophe for contractions.
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Kavi's Squashing Trick
"Watch this," said Kavi, pushing two words together. "do not squashes into don't, and it is becomes it's. A contraction is two words squeezed into one — and the little apostrophe ( ' ) is the mark that shows where a letter slipped out. One tiny mark, two words saved!"
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What your child will learn
1Two words, one short form — the apostrophe marks the gapA contraction joins two words into one short word. We take out a letter (or two) and put an apostrophe ( ' ) in its place to show where the letter went missing.
2Which ones are short forms?
3Spot the apostrophesTap each line to hear it. Look for the short forms and the little apostrophe that marks the missing letters.
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A peek inside
Make a short form of: do not
take out the o in not → put an apostrophe there → don't
Try this at home: Write the short form of: do not
Ready to play and learn?
Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.
Part of English · Stage 4 · S4 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.