RIC-20248 Primary Grammar and Word Study Year 6 – Punctuation

Punctuation
Apostrophes
Focus
Apostrophes in contractions
Definition
• A contraction is a shorter word made by joining two
or more words and taking out one or more letters.
The missing letter or letters is/are replaced by an
apostrophe.
Explanation
• When two or more words are joined and contracted,
the omitted letters are marked with an apostrophe.
• The mistake is often made of placing the apostrophe
between the two words, e.g. should’nt, do’nt.
Students will need to be reminded that the
apostrophe marks the missing letter and not the
space where the two words join.
• Contractions are commonly used in speech and
informal writing, but not often in formal writing.
• Not all words with apostrophes are contractions.
Apostrophes can also indicate possession.
• Double contractions are common in speech; e.g.
‘shouldn’t’ve’ and ‘who’d’ve’. It is important for
students to be aware of the correct spelling of such
words; e.g ‘I’d’ve’ is sometimes pronounced ‘I’da’.
Worksheet information
• Read and discuss the information in the introduction
on the student page. After reading the pirate story,
ask students to suggest the meanings of the unusual
contractions, but do not provide them with the
definitions as they will need to work them out in
Question 1(b).
• Students complete Question 1(b) by drawing a line
from each contraction to its definition and the words
that form the contraction. Advise students to read
the text again to help them define each contraction.
• For Question 2, students read the sentences
and determine which word makes the ‘s’ in the
contracted word. To find the correct answer,
students may need to try saying each word (is, has
and us) after the first half of the contraction.
• In Question 3, students say the contracted word then
write the words it is made from.
Ideas for further practice
• There are a number of online interactive games
where students can practise contracting words. Try
,
Answers
1. (a) man-o’-war, fo’c’sle, Cap’n, ne’er-do-well,
Cap’n, will-o’-the-wisp, cat-o’-nine-tails
Note: the apostrophes in ‘mother’s’ (showing
possession) and ‘I’ll’ have not been included.
(b) front part of ship – fo’c’sle – forecastle
a whip with nine ‘tails’ – cat-o’-nine tails – cat
of nine tails
ghostly, flickering lights – will-o’-the-wisp –
will of the wisp
a sailing ship with cannons – man-o’-war –
man of war
an irresponsible or lazy person – ne’er-do-well
– never do well
according to the clock – o’clock – of the clock
2. (a) us (b) is
(c) has
(d) has
3. (a) They will have (b) could not have
(c) should not have (d) Who would have
©R.I.C. Publications
Low Resolution Images
Display Copy
Primary grammar and word study 64
www.ricpublications.com.au R.I.C. Publications ®