Contractions and the possessive apostrophe
Year group: 2
Source: DfE, English Appendix 1: Spelling, National Curriculum for England (2013) — Year 2
Curriculum requirement: Statutory
Purpose: Year 2 guide to apostrophes for contraction — what the apostrophe replaces, common contractions, and practice to avoid confusion with possession.
Part A: Contractions
A contraction is two words joined together with letters missing. An apostrophe (') shows where the missing letters were.
I am → I'm (apostrophe replaces the a of am)
do not → don't (apostrophe replaces the o of not)
she will → she'll (apostrophe replaces wi of will)
The apostrophe always sits in the exact position where letters have been removed — not between the two words.
Common contractions — full list for Y2
| Full form | Contraction | Letters removed |
|---|---|---|
| I am | I'm | a |
| I will | I'll | wi |
| I have | I've | ha |
| I had / I would | I'd | ha or woul |
| you are | you're | a |
| you will | you'll | wi |
| you have | you've | ha |
| you had / you would | you'd | ha or woul |
| he is / he has | he's | i or ha |
| he will | he'll | wi |
| she is / she has | she's | i or ha |
| she will | she'll | wi |
| it is / it has | it's | i or ha |
| we are | we're | a |
| we will | we'll | wi |
| we have | we've | ha |
| they are | they're | a |
| they will | they'll | wi |
| they have | they've | ha |
| that is | that's | i |
| there is | there's | i |
| here is | here's | i |
| who is / who has | who's | i or ha |
| do not | don't | o |
| did not | didn't | o |
| does not | doesn't | o |
| is not | isn't | o |
| are not | aren't | o |
| was not | wasn't | o |
| were not | weren't | o |
| will not | won't | ill no — special case! (will not → won't) |
| would not | wouldn't | o |
| could not | couldn't | o |
| should not | shouldn't | o |
| have not | haven't | o |
| has not | hasn't | o |
| had not | hadn't | o |
| cannot | can't | no |
| let us | let's | u |
| I would | I'd | woul |
Special case — won't: will not becomes won't, not willn't. The vowel changes. This is the only common contraction where the base word changes significantly. Teach it separately.
The it's / its trap
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| it's | contraction of it is or it has | It's raining. (= It is raining) |
| its | possessive — belonging to it | The dog wagged its tail. |
Memory rule: if you can expand it to it is or it has, use it's with an apostrophe. If it means "belonging to it," use its with no apostrophe.
Same logic applies to: who's (who is) vs whose (belonging to whom); they're (they are) vs their (belonging to them) vs there (a place).
Part B: The possessive apostrophe (singular nouns)
An apostrophe + s shows that something belongs to someone or something.
the cat's tail — the tail belonging to the cat
Sam's book — the book belonging to Sam
the teacher's chair — the chair belonging to the teacher
The rule for singular nouns: add 's to the noun.
dog → dog's (the dog's bowl)
girl → girl's (the girl's coat)
James → James's (James's bag) — add 's even after s
Possessive vs plural — the most important distinction in punctuation
| Sentence | Meaning | Correct? |
|---|---|---|
| The dog's are barking. | ??? | NO — dog's cannot be a plural |
| The dogs are barking. | More than one dog | YES — plural, no apostrophe |
| The dog's bowl is empty. | The bowl belonging to the dog | YES — possessive, apostrophe + s |
Rule: apostrophes are NEVER used to make plurals. Apple's means "belonging to the apple." Apples (no apostrophe) is the plural.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| dont | don't | apostrophe replaces the o of not |
| its raining | it's raining | it's = it is — contraction needs apostrophe |
| the cats bowl | the cat's bowl | possessive — needs 's |
| apple's for sale | apples for sale | plurals never take apostrophes |
| wont | won't | special contraction of will not |
| there're going | they're going | they're = they are |
Word sort
Expand each contraction to its full form.
Words: I'm · don't · she'll · it's · we've · won't · couldn't · they're · he's · I'd
| Contraction | Full form |
|---|---|
| I'm | |
| don't | |
| she'll | |
| it's | |
| we've | |
| won't | |
| couldn't | |
| they're | |
| he's | |
| I'd |
Dictation sentences
- I'm sure it's going to rain — I've checked the forecast twice.
- Don't forget that's the teacher's book on the desk.
- She'll bring James's bag back when she's finished.
- We're not sure where the dog's lead is — it's been missing since Monday.
- They're the best at this — we've never seen anyone do it quite so well.
Source: DfE English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013). Contractions and possessive apostrophe are explicitly cited in Year 2 statutory content.