How is "it's" different from "its"?

It's always means "it is" (or "it has"): it's raining. Its shows ownership: the dog wagged its tail. The expansion test settles every case; if "it is" fits, use the apostrophe. This pair also appears in our commonly confused words worksheets for extra reps.

Are contractions okay in school writing?

In most writing, yes; they're standard English, not slang. Formal assignments sometimes ask students to avoid them, which is a style choice, not a grammar rule. Knowing how to expand any contraction makes switching registers effortless.

4th grade contractions

4th grade contractions worksheets

By 4th grade, contractions are mostly review with sharper edges: the would/should/could family (shouldn't, wouldn't), the irregular won't, and the it's/its fork, where the apostrophe marks a contraction rather than ownership. The 'd in we'd can be would (we'd love to come) or had (we'd already left), and the words after it decide which. Precision here pays off directly in writing.

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.

were + not =
Fixed: weren’t
could + not =
will + not =

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 4th grade sheet

4th grade sheets draw from 60 sentences, 8 to a page. 40 of the 60 aren't on 3rd grade sheets. The other 20 are.

Some of the words:

wouldn’tdoesn’tWe’veI’veyou’rearen’twasn’tWe’dI’dthere’s

Fix it. Write the contraction for each word pair. 8 sentences to fix per page.
Choose the word. Circle the letter of the correctly written contraction. 10 questions per page.

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

How to teach this

Two conversations carry this grade. First, won't: it's the one contraction that changed its spelling on the way, and kids enjoy the history. Second, it's versus its: the apostrophe means "it is," full stop. A 4th grader who runs the expansion test out of habit has outgrown the most common punctuation error in adult writing.

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 4th grade contractions

How is "it's" different from "its"?: It's always means "it is" (or "it has"): it's raining. Its shows ownership: the dog wagged its tail. The expansion test settles every case; if "it is" fits, use the apostrophe. This pair also appears in our commonly confused words worksheets for extra reps.
Are contractions okay in school writing?: In most writing, yes; they're standard English, not slang. Formal assignments sometimes ask students to avoid them, which is a style choice, not a grammar rule. Knowing how to expand any contraction makes switching registers effortless.

Related worksheets

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Aligned to Common Core L.2.2.c. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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