Make It Shorter Class 2 NCERT: Short Forms Made Easy

In English Unit 7 Make It Shorter, Class 2 students learn how two words can be joined and written in a shorter way. For example, I am becomes I'm and do not becomes don't. This is useful because people often use short forms while speaking, reading stories, and writing friendly sentences. The small mark used in many short forms is called an apostrophe. It shows that some letters are missing. In this make it shorter class 2 ncert guide, you will learn what short forms mean, where the apostrophe goes, and how to change full forms into short forms without confusion. You will also practise reading sentences, matching full forms with short forms, and correcting common mistakes. YoLearn AI Tutor helps you learn slowly with voice support and a sketchpad style explanation, so every child can see how the words shrink step by step.

What Does Make It Shorter Mean?

Make it shorter means writing a pair of words in a smaller form without changing the meaning. In English, we often join words like I am, you are, he is, and do not. When we join them, we remove one or more letters and put an apostrophe in their place. So I am becomes I'm. The meaning stays the same: I am happy and I'm happy tell us the same thing. Short forms make speaking and writing sound natural. For Class 2, the main skill is to notice the two original words first, then see which letters have gone missing.

Important Words to Know

Full form
The complete pair of words before making it short, such as I am or do not.
Short form
The smaller joined form of two words, such as I'm or don't.
Apostrophe
A small mark like ' that shows where letters have been left out.
Missing letters
Letters removed from the full form when we make a short form. In do not, the letter o from not is missing in don't.

How to Make Two Words Shorter

  1. Read the full form first — Do not rush to write the answer. Read both words clearly, such as she is, we are, or cannot.
  2. Find the word that changes — Many short forms change the second word. For example, in he is, the word is becomes only s after the apostrophe.
  3. Put the apostrophe in the missing place — The apostrophe is not decoration. It stands where letters were removed. In cannot, the letters no are not written separately; the short form is can't.
  4. Read the sentence again — Check that the meaning is still the same. She is my friend and She's my friend mean the same thing.

Worked Examples

  • Example 1: Make I am shorter. Step 1: Write the full form: I am. Step 2: Join the two words. Step 3: Remove the letter a from am. Step 4: Put an apostrophe where a was removed. Final answer: I am = I'm.
  • Example 2: Make do not shorter. Step 1: Write the full form: do not. Step 2: The short form keeps do and changes not. Step 3: Remove the letter o from not. Step 4: Write the apostrophe in place of the missing o. Final answer: do not = don't.
  • Example 3: Use a short form in a sentence. Full sentence: We are going to school. Step 1: Find the words we are. Step 2: Change we are to we're. Step 3: Keep the rest of the sentence the same. Final answer: We're going to school.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Do not forget the apostrophe. Im is incorrect; I'm is correct.
  • Do not put the apostrophe anywhere you like. The apostrophe shows missing letters, so dont is incorrect and don't is correct.
  • Remember that its and it's can be confusing later. In Class 2, learn that it is becomes it's.
  • Read the full sentence after making it shorter. The meaning should stay the same.
  • Use short forms mostly in friendly writing and speaking. In very formal writing, full forms may be better.

Exam Tip for Class 2 English

In worksheet questions, first underline the two words that must become shorter. Then write the short form above them and check the apostrophe. If the question says make it shorter, do not change the whole sentence; only change the correct word pair. For example, in They are playing, only They are becomes They're, and playing stays the same.

Practice Questions with Solutions

  • Q: Make it shorter: I am ready. A: Step 1: Find the words that can be shortened: I am. Step 2: I am becomes I'm. Step 3: Keep the word ready the same. Final answer: I'm ready.
  • Q: Make it shorter: She is my sister. A: Step 1: Find the words she is. Step 2: Join she and is. Step 3: Replace the missing letter i with an apostrophe. Final answer: She's my sister.
  • Q: Make it shorter: They are in the park. A: Step 1: Find the words they are. Step 2: Change they are to they're. Step 3: Copy the rest of the sentence: in the park. Final answer: They're in the park.
  • Q: Write the full form of don't. A: Step 1: Read the short form: don't. Step 2: The apostrophe shows a missing letter from not. Step 3: Write the two words do and not. Final answer: don't = do not.
  • Q: Choose the correct short form of cannot: cant or can't. A: Step 1: We need a short form with an apostrophe. Step 2: The correct spelling is can't. Step 3: Cant has no apostrophe, so it is not the correct answer here. Final answer: cannot = can't.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main idea of Make It Shorter in Class 2 English?

The main idea is to learn short forms of common word pairs. Children practise changing full forms like I am and do not into I'm and don't.

Why do we use an apostrophe in short forms?

An apostrophe shows that one or more letters are missing. It helps the reader understand that two words have been joined into one shorter word.

Is don't the same as do not?

Yes, don't and do not have the same meaning. Don't is the short form, and do not is the full form.

How can YoLearn AI Tutor help with this chapter?

YoLearn AI Tutor can read sentences aloud, explain the missing letters, and show the short form step by step. Students can also practise similar questions until they feel confident.