Butterfly is a compound word because it is two whole words joined together. The two whole words can be used separately: butter and fly.
Isn't is a contraction because two words have been joined together but one or more letters have been dropped and an apostrophe is standing in for the dropped letters: isn't = is not. See the apostrophe, the tiny mark in the air before the letter t?
Contractions slowly evolved in English during the 1400s. The two words, will not, became wynnot; later, wonnot and wol not, then finally won't. Won't = will not.
In the old days, the word will referred to something someone was thinking of doing, intending to do. The word shall referred to an obligation to do a thing, the need to do a thing.
The word shall had contractions, as in: I shan't forget to pay the electric bill. You shan't be allowed to go to the movie unless your homework is finished.
Ask your child what two words each of these contractions stand for:
 |
| Is butterfly a compound word or a contraction? |
Isn't is a contraction because two words have been joined together but one or more letters have been dropped and an apostrophe is standing in for the dropped letters: isn't = is not. See the apostrophe, the tiny mark in the air before the letter t?
Contractions slowly evolved in English during the 1400s. The two words, will not, became wynnot; later, wonnot and wol not, then finally won't. Won't = will not.
In the old days, the word will referred to something someone was thinking of doing, intending to do. The word shall referred to an obligation to do a thing, the need to do a thing.
The word shall had contractions, as in: I shan't forget to pay the electric bill. You shan't be allowed to go to the movie unless your homework is finished.
Ask your child what two words each of these contractions stand for:
1) I'm he's she's it's who's what's that's here's there's let's (let us)
2) you're we're they're who're
3) I've you've we've they've
4) can't don't didn't won't wouldn't couldn't shouldn't mightn't
also: isn't aren't doesn't wasn't weren't hasn't hadn't needn't mustn't
5) I'll you'll he'll she'll we'll they'll who'll
6) I'd you'd he'd she'd we'd they'd
7) o'clock is a contraction of the phrase, of the clock, which came into use in the 1640s.
About the apostrophe: that tiny mark in the air can also tell the reader that an item belongs to someone: Adam's cap; the apostrophe tells the reader the cap belongs to Adam.
Mom's car keys; what is the apostrophe telling the reader? Answer: the keys belong to Mom.
Jack's ball; what is the apostrophe telling the reader?
Mark's book; what is the apostrophe telling the reader?
I use ebay as my website. Search Instant Reading Help all my books will pop up for you.
All of my books teach the tricky phonics plus a special comprehension method proven to rapidly help your child become a powerful reader. There is not enough time at school for the practice a child needs to really learn the critical reading lessons. You want to be sure your child is ready for the challenge of the upper grades.
My graphics come from the wonderful Corel software collection.
Douglas Harper's http://www.etymonline.com is my source for the history of contractions.
Thank you, Mary Maisner
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