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2nd Grade Contractions Worksheets

A contraction is two words squeezed into one, with an apostrophe holding the spot where letters fell out: is not becomes isn't, I am becomes I'm. Second graders read them, spell them, and learn to park the apostrophe exactly where the missing letters used to live.

Free printable PDF, aligned to Common Core L.2.2.c. One skill per page, answer key on page two.

Every sheet is one of a kind and prints with a version code, so you can reprint the exact same one later. New version every click.

A sample 2nd grade sheet. Yours will have different sentences. Click it to print your own.

The kind of sentences you'll get

Circle the letter of the correctly written contraction.

  1. ______ help you set the table for dinner. Ill · Il'l · I'll

    Answer: I'll

  2. The leaves ______ green in October. arent · are'nt · aren't
  3. ______ reading a book about volcanoes. Im · Im' · I'm

Every print draws a fresh mix of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different sheet.

What's on each sheet

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Make the squeeze physical: write "do not" on paper, cross out the o, and drop the apostrophe into the hole it left. That one image, the apostrophe as a placeholder for missing letters, prevents the do'nt error before it starts. Practice expanding contractions back out loud, too; it's the check kids will use forever.

Watch for: The apostrophe marks the missing letters, not the joint between words. That's why it's don't, never do'nt. Won't is the rebel: will not should give willn't, but English long ago settled on won't instead.

Common questions about contractions

How do I explain where the apostrophe goes?
It marks the exact spot where letters disappeared. In don't, the o of not dropped out, so the apostrophe sits between n and t. Have your child write the two words, cross out the vanishing letters, and place the apostrophe in the gap; the rule teaches itself.
Which contractions should a 2nd grader learn first?
The not-family (don't, isn't, can't, didn't) plus I'm, it's, and let's. Those cover most of what they'll meet in books at this level. The rarer would/should/could contractions can wait for 3rd and 4th grade.

Related worksheets

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One page, answer key included. A fresh version every time you click.

Aligned to Common Core L.2.2.c. Reviewed by the One More Sheet curriculum team. Content version 68, updated July 2026.