Lesson 26 Compound words and contractions

does	+ not	= doesn't		hitch	+ hike	= hitchhike
should	+ have	= should've		touch	+ down	= touchdown
could	+ have	= could've		head	+ light	= headlight
she	+ would	= she'd		over	+ rated	= overrated
who	+ will	= who'll		wind	+ shield	= windshield
where	+ is	= where's		wheel	+ chair	= wheelchair
				ninety	+ nine	= ninety-nine
				sister	+ in + law	= sister-in-law
				right	+ handed	= right-handed
				double	+ header	= double-header
				three	+ eighths	= three-eighths
				half	+ hour	= half-hour

1.	In the first group of words, what was added when the words were joined? _____________________________________________________________ For what purpose is the apostrophe used in these words? _____________________________________________________________
2.	In the second group of words, was anything added or dropped when the words were joined? _____ Why do the words hitchhike and overrated have double letters? ___________________________________________________
3.	What was added when the words in the last group were joined? ___________________________________________________

Lesson Generalization Words can be joined together in several ways. When an apostrophe is used to show that one or more letters have been omitted, the word is called a contraction. When two or more words are simply connected with no changes, the word is called a compound word. Words joined by a hyphen are another kind of compound word.

© McDougal Littell Inc.

Grade 6 Spelling SkillBuilders