Contractions Worksheets and Activities | Language Arts and Grammar - Free Printable

Here is the completed Contractions Worksheet 5 with explanations for each answer.

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✔ Directions Recap:

Find the two words in each sentence that can form a contraction. Underline them (we’ll indicate with bold here), then write the correct contraction on the line.

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📝 Answers & Explanations:

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1. If we know this, *we will* make some money for sure!
→ we’ll *(already given as example)*
✔ *“we” + “will” = we’ll*

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2. Rocky has not given up the fight yet.
→ hasn’t
✔ *“has” + “not” = hasn’t*

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3. They are going to help us get through this.
→ they’re
✔ *“they” + “are” = they’re*
*(Note: “going to” can also contract to “gonna,” but that’s informal and usually not taught in basic worksheets. “They are” → “they’re” is the standard expected answer.)*

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4. He does not seem to understand simple instructions.
→ doesn’t
✔ *“does” + “not” = doesn’t*

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5. She will go to the dance with you.
→ she’ll
✔ *“she” + “will” = she’ll*

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6. I will not give up my dreams for this.
→ won’t
✔ *“will” + “not” = won’t*
*(Note: Although “I will not” is the full phrase, the contraction is always “won’t” — it’s an irregular contraction.)*

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7. The pirate will not learn to swim.
→ won’t
✔ *“will” + “not” = won’t*

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8. It would not be that hard for him.
→ wouldn’t
✔ *“would” + “not” = wouldn’t*

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9. Who are these people and what do they want?
→ they’re
✔ *“they” + “are” = they’re*
*(“do they” cannot contract; only “they are” can.)*

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10. I could not stop if I tried.
→ couldn’t
✔ *“could” + “not” = couldn’t*

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11. How is that project coming along?
→ how’s
✔ *“how” + “is” = how’s*
*(This is less common but grammatically correct. Sometimes students miss this one.)*

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12. If it were not for his behavior, the class would be eating lunch now.
→ weren’t
✔ *“were” + “not” = weren’t*

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13. Ask as many questions as you want; it is your business.
→ it’s
✔ *“it” + “is” = it’s*

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14. If I were you, I would try a little harder.
→ I’d
✔ *“I” + “would” = I’d*
*(Also acceptable: “I were” → no contraction. But “I would” → “I’d” is correct.)*

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15. I have given up on waiting for her.
→ I’ve
✔ *“I” + “have” = I’ve*

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16. I hate cupcakes: they will be the death of me.
→ they’ll
✔ *“they” + “will” = they’ll*

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17. Please do not throw things in class.
→ don’t
✔ *“do” + “not” = don’t*

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18. I have not even started doing make-up work.
→ haven’t
✔ *“have” + “not” = haven’t*

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19. This will be tough if you were not listening.
→ won’t *(for “will not”) OR weren’t *(for “were not”) — BUT the sentence says “you were not”, so:
→ weren’t
✔ *“were” + “not” = weren’t*
*(Note: “This will be tough if you weren’t listening” is the corrected version.)*

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20. Let us work really hard on this unit since it’s so important.
→ let’s
✔ *“let” + “us” = let’s*

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21. He has not even started his homework!
→ hasn’t
✔ *“has” + “not” = hasn’t*

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✔ Final Answer Key (for quick reference):

| # | Contraction |
|---|-------------|
| 1 | we’ll |
| 2 | hasn’t |
| 3 | they’re |
| 4 | doesn’t |
| 5 | she’ll |
| 6 | won’t |
| 7 | won’t |
| 8 | wouldn’t |
| 9 | they’re |
|10 | couldn’t |
|11 | how’s |
|12 | weren’t |
|13 | it’s |
|14 | I’d |
|15 | I’ve |
|16 | they’ll |
|17 | don’t |
|18 | haven’t |
|19 | weren’t |
|20 | let’s |
|21 | hasn’t |

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💡 Teaching Tip:

Remind students that contractions combine two words — often a subject + verb or verb + “not.” Common patterns:
- Subject + will → ’ll (we’ll, he’ll, they’ll)
- Subject + have → ’ve (I’ve, you’ve)
- Subject + is/are → ’s / ’re (he’s, they’re)
- Verb + not → n’t (isn’t, don’t, won’t)

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Let me know if you’d like a printable version or flashcards for practice! 📘✨