EnglishAges 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Use apostrophes accurately in shortened verb contractions and singular or plural possessive nouns. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

New variation Try interactive challenge Browse templates

Age band:Ages 7-9 Ages 10-12

Choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Use your browser’s paper setting for A4 or Letter.

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
2. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
3. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
“did not” · Contractions & possessive …
4. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
6. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
7. What two words are combined in the contraction “we’re”?
“we’re” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will not” · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
“you are” · Contractions & possessive …
10. Which form shows the rudder belonging to one captain’s boat: “the boat’s rudder” or “the boats rudder”?
“the boat’s rudder” · “the boa · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
12. Which form shows a hat belonging to one girl: “the girl’s hat” or “the girls’ hat”?
“the girl’s hat” · “the girls’ · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 104729 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
2. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
3. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
didn’t
The apostrophe in “didn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
4. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Whose
“Whose” is the possessive pronoun asking whom the notebook belongs to.
5. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
6. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
7. What two words are combined in the contraction “we’re”?
we are
“We’re” is the contraction of “we are”.
8. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will not”.
9. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
you’re
The apostrophe in “you’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
10. Which form shows the rudder belonging to one captain’s boat: “the boat’s rudder” or “the boats rudder”?
the boat’s rudder
Add ’s to the singular noun “boat” to show possession.
11. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
12. Which form shows a hat belonging to one girl: “the girl’s hat” or “the girls’ hat”?
the girl’s hat
For a singular noun (“girl”), add ’s to show possession (“girl’s”).

12 questions · Seed 104729 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
2. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
3. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
“did not” · Contractions & possessive …
4. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
6. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
7. What two words are combined in the contraction “we’re”?
“we’re” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will not” · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
“you are” · Contractions & possessive …
10. Which form shows the rudder belonging to one captain’s boat: “the boat’s rudder” or “the boats rudder”?
“the boat’s rudder” · “the boa · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
12. Which form shows a hat belonging to one girl: “the girl’s hat” or “the girls’ hat”?
“the girl’s hat” · “the girls’ · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 104729 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
2. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
3. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
didn’t
The apostrophe in “didn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
4. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Whose
“Whose” is the possessive pronoun asking whom the notebook belongs to.
5. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
6. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
7. What two words are combined in the contraction “we’re”?
we are
“We’re” is the contraction of “we are”.
8. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will not”.
9. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
you’re
The apostrophe in “you’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
10. Which form shows the rudder belonging to one captain’s boat: “the boat’s rudder” or “the boats rudder”?
the boat’s rudder
Add ’s to the singular noun “boat” to show possession.
11. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
12. Which form shows a hat belonging to one girl: “the girl’s hat” or “the girls’ hat”?
the girl’s hat
For a singular noun (“girl”), add ’s to show possession (“girl’s”).

12 questions · Seed 104729 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification