Contractions Errors: Printable Grammar Editing Worksheet for Grade 5

Title: Editing Contractions: Grade 5 English Grammar Worksheet 

Have you ever written “cant” and wondered if you need an apostrophe? You do – it should be “can’t.” Contractions are shortened forms of two words, and the apostrophe shows where letters have been left out. In Grade 5, learning to edit incorrect use of contractions helps you write shorter, more natural sentences. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” “Don’t” is a contraction for “do not” – the apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not.” “Can’t” is a contraction for “cannot” – the apostrophe replaces the “no.” “I’m” is a contraction for “I am” – the apostrophe replaces the “a.” This Grade 5 English grammar worksheet on editing contractions will teach you to form contractions correctly and avoid common mistakes. 

Download these English grammar worksheets and practice regularly to strengthen your language skills and build a strong foundation. You can also book a free trial to get expert guidance and improve your reading, writing, and comprehension abilities. The worksheets are designed in a simple and structured way to help K–8 students learn grammar concepts easily and use them confidently in everyday communication. 

Book a free trial! 

What Is the Topic? 

The topic of this worksheet is Editing: Incorrect Use of Contractions. A contraction is a shortened form of two words. An apostrophe shows where letters have been left out. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” Example: “It’s raining” (it is raining). “Don’t” is a contraction for “do not.” The apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not.” Example: “I don’t know.” “Can’t” is a contraction for “cannot.” The apostrophe replaces the “no.” Example: “I can’t believe it.” “I’m” is a contraction for “I am.” The apostrophe replaces the “a.” Example: “I’m going to the store.” “He’s” is a contraction for “he is” or “he has.” “She’ll” is a contraction for “she will.” “We’ve” is a contraction for “we have.” “They’re” is a contraction for “they are.” “You’re” is a contraction for “you are.” “Won’t” is a contraction for “will not.” Understanding how to form contractions helps you write the way people speak. 

Book a free trial! 

What’s in This Worksheet? 

This worksheet contains five different exercises that help students master contractions. Here is what is included: 

1. Exercise No. 1 – Multiple Choice Questions – Students read each pair and choose the correctly spelled contraction. This exercise tests basic knowledge of common contractions. 

2. Exercise No. 2 – True and False – Students read ten statements about contractions and decide whether each one is true or false. This helps correct common misunderstandings about how contractions are formed. 

3. Exercise No. 3 – Fill in the Blanks – Students replace the underlined words with the correct contraction. This exercise practices forming contractions from word pairs. 

4. Exercise No. 4 – Sentence Rewriting – Students read sentences and rewrite them using contractions. This exercise focuses on applying contraction rules. 

5. Exercise No. 5 – Paragraph Writing – Students read a paragraph and correct any contraction errors by adding apostrophes where needed. This combines reading comprehension with grammar application. 

This worksheet supports exam preparation by covering the most common contractions and how to form them correctly. 

Book a free trial! 

Definitions, Examples, Techniques, and Tips 

Based only on the content of this worksheet, here are the exact definitions and examples students will learn: 

Rules for Contractions: 

- Contraction definition: A contraction is a shortened form of two words. An apostrophe shows where letters have been left out. 

- It’s: Contraction for “it is” or “it has.” Example: “It’s raining.” (it is) 

- I’m: Contraction for “I am.” The apostrophe replaces the “a.” Example: “I’m going to the park.” 

- He’s: Contraction for “he is” or “he has.” Example: “He’s playing football.” “He’s my best friend.” 

- She’ll: Contraction for “she will.” Example: “She’ll be here soon.” 

- We’ve: Contraction for “we have.” Example: “We’ve finished our homework.” 

- They’re: Contraction for “they are.” Example: “They’re going to the movies.” 

- You’re: Contraction for “you are.” Example: “You’re going to love this!” 

- Don’t: Contraction for “do not.” The apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not.” Example: “I don’t know the answer.” 

- Can’t: Contraction for “cannot.” The apostrophe replaces the “no.” Example: “I can’t believe it!” 

- Won’t: Contraction for “will not.” 

Examples taken directly from the worksheet (Exercise No. 1 – multiple choice): 

1. (a) It’s raining. (b) Its raining. 
Correct answer: a) It’s raining. 

2. (a) I’m going to the park. (b) Im going to the park. 
Correct answer: a) I’m going to the park. 

3. (a) Hes playing football. (b) He’s playing football. 
Correct answer: b) He’s playing football. 

4. (a) We’ve finished our homework. (b) We’ve finished our homework. (Both are the same – correct) 
Correct answer: a) We’ve finished our homework. 

5. (a) Shell be here soon. (b) She’ll be here soon. 
Correct answer: b) She’ll be here soon. 

6. (a) They’re going to the movies. (b) They’re going to the movies. (Both are the same – correct) 
Correct answer: a) They’re going to the movies. 

7. (a) You’re going to love this! (b) You’re going to love this! (Both are the same – correct) 
Correct answer: a) You’re going to love this! 

8. (a) I dont know the answer. (b) I don’t know the answer. 
Correct answer: b) I don’t know the answer. 

9. (a) I can’t believe it! (b) I cant believe it! 
Correct answer: a) I can’t believe it! 

10. (a) Hes my best friend. (b) He’s my best friend. 
Correct answer: b) He’s my best friend. 

Key facts from True and False section (Page 5): 

- Contractions are formed by expanding word and using apostrophe. (False – contractions are formed by combining two words and using an apostrophe to replace missing letters) 
- Apostrophes are used in contractions to replace vowels only. (False – they replace any missing letters, not just vowels) 
- “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” (True) 
- “Don’t” is a contraction for “do not,” so the apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not.” (True) 
- In the contraction “can’t,” the apostrophe replaces the “a” in “cannot.” (False – it replaces “no” – can + not = can’t, the apostrophe replaces “no”) 
- You should use contractions in formal writing to sound professional. (False – contractions are generally avoided in formal writing) 
- The contraction “they’re” is short for “they are.” (True) 
- “She’s” is a contraction of “she is” or “she has.” (True) 
- “I’m” is a contraction of “I was” and uses an apostrophe for the missing “a.” (False – “I’m” is “I am”) 
- “I’m” is a contraction of “I am” and uses an apostrophe for the missing “a.” (True) 

Examples from Exercise No. 3 – Fill in the blanks (Page 6 – replace with contractions):

1. I can’t find my keys. (cannot) 
2. She isn’t coming to the party. (is not) 
3. They won’t be here until tomorrow. (will not) 
4. I’m going to the store later. (am) 
5. We don’t like that movie. (do not) 
6. He hasn’t finished his homework yet. (has not) 
7. I’ll help you with that project. (will) 
8. You aren’t allowed to play video games until your homework is done. (are not) 
9. We’ve to leave for the airport soon. (have – but “we’ve” is “we have,” so “We’ve” works) 
10. She’s my best friend. (is) 

Examples from Exercise No. 4 – Sentence Rewriting (Pages 7 and 8 – rewrite with contractions): 

1. I can’t believe this is happening. 
2. She’s going to be late. 
3. They won’t come to the party. 
4. We don’t want to miss the bus. 
5. He’s always on time. 
6. You’re the best player on the team. 
7. I’m so excited for the trip. 
8. They don’t understand the problem. 
9. He’s been working hard. 
10. It’s time to go home. 

Example from Exercise No. 5 – Paragraph (Page 9) – correct contraction errors (add apostrophes where needed): 

The paragraph as provided already has most contractions correct. The errors, if any, are minor. The paragraph reads: 

It was a cold and rainy day, and we couldn’t decide whether to stay inside or go outside. We’ve been planning to visit the park all week, but the weather wasn’t cooperating. “I don’t think we should go out,” my brother said, “It’s too wet out there.” I agreed, but my sister insisted that we go anyway. “We’ll just wear our raincoats,” she said, “It won’t hurt.” After some convincing, we finally agreed, and we put on our jackets and boots. By the time we got to the park, the rain had stopped. “I knew it wouldn’t last long!” my sister said. “We’re going to have fun after all,” I said. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the park, and by the time we were done, we were all exhausted. “It’s been a long day,” I said as we walked home, “But I’m glad we went out!” 

All contractions are correctly written. No changes needed. 

Quick learning tip: The apostrophe in a contraction goes where the letters are missing. “Do not” → “don’t” (the apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not”). “Cannot” → “can’t” (the apostrophe replaces “no”). “I am” → “I’m” (the apostrophe replaces the “a”). “Will not” → “won’t” (memorize this unusual one). 

Book a free trial! 

Why Is It Important to Learn This? 

Learning about contractions is important for several reasons. First, “it’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” Writing “its” when you mean “it is” is a common error. Second, “don’t” is a contraction for “do not” – the apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not.” “Dont” (missing apostrophe) is incorrect. Third, “can’t” is a contraction for “cannot” – the apostrophe replaces “no.” “Cant” (without apostrophe) can mean a type of slang or language, not “cannot.” Fourth, “I’m” is a contraction for “I am” – the apostrophe replaces the “a.” “Im” (without apostrophe) is incorrect. Fifth, this topic is tested in grammar exams where you may be asked to add missing apostrophes or correct errors. Finally, using contractions correctly makes your writing sound natural and fluent. 

Book a free trial! 

Where Will This Knowledge Help You? 

Knowledge of contractions will help you in many academic and real-life situations: 

1. Grammar exams and language tests – Many questions ask you to choose the correctly spelled contraction or add missing apostrophes. This worksheet directly prepares you for those questions. 

2. Writing stories and informal essays – Contractions make your writing sound conversational and natural. “I can’t believe it” sounds more natural than “I cannot believe it.” 

3. Speaking English fluently – Native speakers use contractions constantly. “I’ll,” “you’re,” “they’re,” “we’ve,” “don’t,” “can’t,” “won’t” – learning them helps you sound natural. 

4. Texting and emailing – Contractions are shorter and faster to type. “I’m,” “you’re,” “we’ll” are common in informal writing. 

5. Avoiding common errors – Many people write “cant” (should be “can’t”), “dont” (should be “don’t”), “im” (should be “I’m”). Learning the rules helps you avoid these mistakes. 

6. Building a strong grammar foundation – Contractions are a basic part of English grammar. Mastering them is essential for fluency. 

Book a free trial! 

How to Use This Worksheet? 

Follow these steps to get the most out of this Grade 5 English grammar worksheet on editing contractions: 

1. Attempt independently first – Without looking at any answers, complete all five exercises in order. Start with Exercise No. 1 (Multiple Choice Questions), then Exercise No. 2 (True and False), then Exercise No. 3 (Fill in the Blanks), then Exercise No. 4 (Sentence Rewriting), and finally Exercise No. 5 (Paragraph Writing – correct contraction errors). 

2. Review answers carefully – After you finish all exercises, go to the Complete Answer Key section below. Compare your answers one by one. Pay special attention to Exercise No. 5 – make sure you added apostrophes in all the right places. 

3. Correct mistakes – For any answer that is different from the answer key, write the correct answer next to your attempt. Try to understand why you made the mistake. Did you forget the apostrophe in “don’t”? 

4. Practice regularly – Contractions take practice. Repeat the worksheet after a few days. For the paragraph correction task (Exercise No. 5), try to find all the missing apostrophes without looking at the answer key first. 

The solutions follow the exact worksheet order. Students should compare their answers carefully. 

Book a free trial! 

Important Tips and Tricks 

Here are important tips and tricks based directly on this worksheet to help you master contractions and score full marks: 

1. The apostrophe replaces missing letters – In “don’t,” the apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not.” In “can’t,” the apostrophe replaces “no.” In “I’m,” the apostrophe replaces the “a.” In “you’re,” the apostrophe replaces the “a” in “are.” In “they’re,” the apostrophe replaces the “a” in “are.” In “we’ve,” the apostrophe replaces “ha” in “have.” In “she’ll,” the apostrophe replaces “wi” in “will.” 

2. “It’s” vs “its” – “It’s” is always a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” If you can replace the word with “it is” or “it has,” use “it’s.” If not, use “its” (possessive). Example: “It’s raining” (it is raining). “The dog wagged its tail” (possession – no apostrophe). 

3. “You’re” vs “your” – “You’re” is a contraction for “you are.” “Your” is possessive. “You’re going to love your new book.” 

4. “They’re” vs “their” vs “there” – “They’re” is “they are.” “Their” is possessive. “There” is a place. 

5. “Who’s” vs “whose” – “Who’s” is “who is” or “who has.” “Whose” is possessive. 

6. “Won’t” is unusual – “Will not” becomes “won’t.” This is an exception. Memorize it. 

7. “Can’t” vs “cant” – “Can’t” is the contraction for “cannot.” “Cant” (without apostrophe) means a type of language or slang. Always use the apostrophe for “cannot.” 

8. What examiners expect – Examiners expect you to put the apostrophe in the correct place in contractions. They expect you to know that “don’t” has an apostrophe between “n” and “t,” “can’t” has an apostrophe between “n” and “t,” “I’m” has an apostrophe between “I” and “m,” “you’re” has an apostrophe between “u” and “r,” etc. 

9. How to score full marks – When answering multiple-choice questions, look for the contraction with the apostrophe in the correct place. “Im” is wrong – it should be “I’m.” “Cant” is wrong – it should be “can’t.” “Dont” is wrong – it should be “don’t.” “Hes” is wrong – it should be “he’s.” “Shell” is wrong – it should be “she’ll.” 

10. For sentence rewriting (Exercise No. 4) – Read each sentence. Replace the two words with the correct contraction. Remember where the apostrophe goes. “I am” becomes “I’m.” “She is” becomes “she’s.” “They will” becomes “they’ll.” “We have” becomes “we’ve.” “Do not” becomes “don’t.” “Cannot” becomes “can’t.” “Will not” becomes “won’t.” 

11. For paragraph correction (Exercise No. 5) – Read the paragraph slowly. Look for words that should be contractions but are missing apostrophes. “Couldnt” should be “couldn’t.” “Weve” should be “we’ve.” “Wasnt” should be “wasn’t.” “Dont” should be “don’t.” “Its” (when meaning “it is”) should be “it’s.” “Well” (when meaning “we will”) should be “we’ll.” “Wont” should be “won’t.” “Wouldnt” should be “wouldn’t.” “Were” (when meaning “we are”) should be “we’re.” “Im” should be “I’m.” 

Book a free trial! 

Complete Answer Key 

Below is the complete answer key for the Grade 5 English grammar worksheet on Editing: Incorrect Use of Contractions. The answers follow the exact order of the worksheet. Section names and question numbers are reproduced exactly as they appear in the worksheet. 

Exercise No. 1

Choose the correctly spelled contraction. 

1. (a) It’s raining. (b) Its raining. 
Answer: a) It’s raining. 

2. (a) I’m going to the park. (b) Im going to the park. 
Answer: a) I’m going to the park. 

3. (a) Hes playing football. (b) He’s playing football. 
Answer: b) He’s playing football. 

4. (a) We’ve finished our homework. (b) We’ve finished our homework. 
Answer: a) We’ve finished our homework. 

5. (a) Shell be here soon. (b) She’ll be here soon. 
Answer: b) She’ll be here soon. 

6. (a) They’re going to the movies. (b) They’re going to the movies. 
Answer: a) They’re going to the movies. 

7. (a) You’re going to love this! (b) You’re going to love this! 
Answer: a) You’re going to love this! 

8. (a) I dont know the answer. (b) I don’t know the answer. 
Answer: b) I don’t know the answer. 

9. (a) I can’t believe it! (b) I cant believe it! 
Answer: a) I can’t believe it! 

10. (a) Hes my best friend. (b) He’s my best friend. 
Answer: b) He’s my best friend. 

Exercise No. 2 

True and False. Write True or False for each statement. 

1. Contractions are formed by expanding word and using apostrophe. 
Answer: False 

2. Apostrophes are used in contractions to replace vowels only. 
Answer: False 

3. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” 
Answer: True 

4. “Don’t” is a contraction for “do not,” so the apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not.” 
Answer: True 

5. In the contraction “can’t,” the apostrophe replaces the “a” in “cannot.” 
Answer: False 

6. You should use contractions in formal writing to sound professional. 
Answer: False 

7. The contraction “they’re” is short for “they are.” 
Answer: True 

8. “She’s” is a contraction of “she is” or “she has.” 
Answer: True 

9. “I’m” is a contraction of “I was” and uses an apostrophe for the missing “a.” 
Answer: False 

10. “I’m” is a contraction of “I am” and uses an apostrophe for the missing “a.” 
Answer: True 

Exercise No. 3 

Replace the underlined words with the correct contraction. 

1. I can’t find my keys. 
2. She isn’t coming to the party. 
3. They won’t be here until tomorrow. 
4. I’m going to the store later. 
5. We don’t like that movie. 
6. He hasn’t finished his homework yet. 
7. I’ll help you with that project. 
8. You aren’t allowed to play video games until your homework is done. 
9. We’ve to leave for the airport soon. 
10. She’s my best friend. 

Exercise No. 4 

Rewrite each sentence using contractions. 

1. I can’t believe this is happening. 
2. She’s going to be late. 
3. They won’t come to the party. 
4. We don’t want to miss the bus. 
5. He’s always on time. 
6. You’re the best player on the team. 
7. I’m so excited for the trip. 
8. They don’t understand the problem. 
9. He’s been working hard. 
10. It’s time to go home. 

Exercise No. 5 

Read the paragraph carefully and correct any contraction errors by adding the apostrophes where needed. 

The paragraph as provided has no contraction errors. All contractions are correctly written. 

Book a free trial! 

You have now completed the entire worksheet on editing incorrect use of contractions. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” “Don’t” is a contraction for “do not” – the apostrophe replaces the “o” in “not.” “Can’t” is a contraction for “cannot” – the apostrophe replaces “no.” “I’m” is a contraction for “I am” – the apostrophe replaces the “a.” “You’re” is a contraction for “you are.” “They’re” is a contraction for “they are.” “We’ve” is a contraction for “we have.” “She’ll” is a contraction for “she will.” “He’s” is a contraction for “he is” or “he has.” Remember: the apostrophe goes where the letters are missing. Keep practicing, and soon you will use contractions correctly every time. You are building skills that will make your writing natural, fluent, and correct in Grade 5 and beyond. 

Book a free trial!