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.

2nd grade contractions

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. Second graders read them, spell them, and park the apostrophe exactly where the missing letters lived.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.2.2.c.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of sentences you'll fix

Write the contraction for each word pair.

You + will =
Fixed: You’ll
can + not =
We + have =

Every print pulls a new set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 2nd grade sheet

2nd grade sheets draw from 60 sentences, 7 to a page. All 60 are on 3rd grade sheets too, along with 20 more. 3rd grade sheets print 8 to a page.

Some of the words:

don’tdoesn’tI’mLet’sThat’sI’veYou’reWe’llshe’she’s

Fix it. Write the contraction for each word pair. 7 sentences to fix per page.
Choose the word. Circle the letter of the correctly written contraction. 8 questions per page.

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 2nd grade 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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Aligned to Common Core L.2.2.c. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 240, updated October 2026.

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