Myriora English › Grammar and punctuation › Chapter 4: Punctuation

Apostrophes: missing letters

Ages 7–9Chapter 4 · Lesson 4

In this lesson

An apostrophe can show missing letters.
Do not becomes don't, and it is becomes it's.
Put the apostrophe exactly where the letters are missing.

Your turn

Which is the short form of cannot?

Show the answer

Can't! The apostrophe goes where the missing letters were.

The common mistake

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people put the apostrophe straight after did, where the gap was. But the missing letter is the O in not, so the apostrophe goes between the N and the T.

Try it at home

Squash it: say two words (do not, she is, we will) and the other person says the short form and writes it, putting the apostrophe exactly where the letters went.

Read the whole lesson

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! Sometimes we squash two words together, and leave out some letters. An apostrophe shows where the letters were.

Do not becomes don't. The apostrophe goes where the O was. It is becomes it's. They are becomes they're. And I will becomes I'll.

The apostrophe goes exactly where the letters are missing. It doesn't just go in the gap between the two words. Did not becomes didn't, with the apostrophe between the N and the T.

Let's try one together. What's the short form of we are? Say it out loud!

We're! The A is missing, so the apostrophe goes in its place. Well done if you said we're!

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people put the apostrophe straight after did, where the gap was. But the missing letter is the O in not, so the apostrophe goes between the N and the T.

Your turn! Which is the short form of cannot? Pick the right card. You've got eight seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! Can't! The apostrophe goes where the missing letters were.

Quick review. An apostrophe can show missing letters. Do not becomes don't, and it is becomes it's. Put the apostrophe exactly where the letters are missing. See you next time!