Contractions Grammar Worksheets

Make contraction practice sheets – don’t, won’t, they’re and more – and print them with an answer key.

This free contractions grammar worksheet generator makes printable worksheets in your web browser. You choose the level, the exercise types and the number of questions, and the sheet on screen updates as you change each setting. There is no sign-up, and nothing you make is uploaded or sent to a server.

The worksheets cover common contractions such as don’t, I’m and let’s, along with the pairs learners often mix up: its and it’s, your and you’re, and their, there and they’re. Each sheet can be printed with an answer key, saved as a PDF, or turned into an on-screen exercise. The practice sentences were written for the site and checked by hand, and the contractions come from a checked table of 45 forms. You can use the same settings to make a new sheet whenever you need one.

How to make a contractions worksheet

Choose a level: Easy (grades 3–4 or ESL beginner), Medium (grades 5–6 or ESL intermediate) or Hard (grades 7–8 or ESL upper-intermediate). The level changes which sentences and words are used.
Choose an exercise type for the first exercise, such as Write the contraction, Rewrite with a contraction, or its / it’s.
Set the number of questions, from 3 to 30. Match exercises count groups of pairs instead of single questions.
Click ‘Add another exercise’ to add more exercises, up to six in total.
Enter a worksheet title and choose US Letter or A4 paper. Turn on Name and date line, Number the questions, or Word bank where the exercise offers one.
Turn on Add the answer key when printing if you want a key.
Check the preview on the right. It changes as soon as you change a setting. Click ‘New worksheet’ to make new questions with the same settings.
If you need several versions, set Different versions (1–10). Each version has its own questions and its own answer key.
Click Print worksheet to print the sheet, or Print answer key to print only the key.

Copy link gives you an address that opens exactly the same worksheet, which is useful for reprinting later or sharing with a colleague. Practice online turns the sheet into an on-screen exercise.

What is a contraction?

A contraction is two words shortened into one, with an apostrophe where the missing letters were. For example, do not becomes don’t, I am becomes I’m, they are becomes they’re, and let us becomes let’s.

Some contractions break the usual pattern. Will not becomes won’t, and cannot becomes can’t. Keep these irregular forms in mind, because students often try to build them the regular way.

Some contractions can stand for two different word pairs. He’d can mean he had or he would, and she’s can mean she is or she has. The ‘Write the two words’ exercise uses only contractions with one meaning, so every answer is clear.

The Spell the contraction exercise shows the right spelling next to versions with the apostrophe in the wrong place or missing, such as hasnt or has’nt, so students learn exactly where it goes. To check a contraction, say the sentence with the full words. If it still makes sense, the contraction is correct.

What is the difference between its and it’s?

It’s is a contraction of it is or it has, as in It’s raining. Its, with no apostrophe, is a possessive word meaning belonging to it, as in The cat licked its paws.

To decide between them, replace the word with it is or it has. If the sentence still works, use it’s. If it does not, use its. “The cat licked it is paws” fails, so the correct word is its.

The same test works for the other pairs:

Your shows ownership, as in your bag. You’re means you are, as in You’re late.
Their shows ownership, as in their house. They’re means they are, as in They’re ready.
There is a place, as in over there, or the start of there is, as in There is a spider on the wall.

Frequently asked questions

Do the worksheets come with answers?

Yes. When you turn on Add the answer key when printing, the key is printed on its own page after the worksheet. To print only the key, click Print answer key.

Can I get the worksheet as a PDF?

Yes. Click Print worksheet, choose Save as PDF in the print window, set the scale to 100 %, and turn off headers and footers. Then save the file.

Is there an ESL contractions worksheet PDF?

Yes. Set the level to match your learners: Easy for ESL beginners, Medium for ESL intermediate, or Hard for ESL upper-intermediate. Then save the sheet as a PDF using the steps above.

Which contractions are included?

The worksheets draw on the 45 contractions in the table, including I’ve, we’ll, hasn’t, there’s, who’s, wouldn’t and you’d. Irregular forms such as won’t and can’t are included too.

Can students check their own answers?

Yes, with Practice online. Students tap a choice, type an answer or tap a word, and then click ‘Check answers’ to see each item marked right or wrong, the correct answers and a score. ‘Try again’ resets the sheet. Free-writing items are not scored.

Punctuation worksheets: use these when you want more practice with apostrophes and other marks.
Pronoun worksheets: use these to practice the words that often sit alongside contractions in sentences.
Verb worksheets: use these for practice with verb forms that often appear in contractions, such as is and are.
Verb tenses worksheets: use these when learners need more work on tense before or after contraction practice.
Grammar worksheets: use these for a wider range of grammar topics across one set of sheets.
ESL worksheets generator: use this to make worksheets on other topics for ESL learners.