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.

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Age band:Ages 7-9 Ages 10-12

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
“you are” · Contractions & possessive …
2. 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 …
3. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …
4. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
“it is” · Contractions & possessive …
6. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
Which form shows the toys … · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · Contractions & possessive …
8. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
“the women’s coats” · “the wom · Contractions & possessive …
9. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
“I’ve” · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will not” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 45 · 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 is the contracted form of “you are”?
you’re
The apostrophe in “you’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
2. 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.
3. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
4. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
5. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
it’s
“It’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” (or “it has”).
6. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
the children’s toys
Because “children” is an irregular plural not ending in s, add ’s (“children’s”).
7. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
can’t
The apostrophe in “can’t” replaces the omitted letters “no” in “cannot”.
8. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
the women’s coats
“Women” is an irregular plural not ending in s, so add ’s (“women’s”).
9. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
I have
“I’ve” is the contraction of “I have”.
10. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
11. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
12. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will not”.

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
“you are” · Contractions & possessive …
2. 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 …
3. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …
4. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
“it is” · Contractions & possessive …
6. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
Which form shows the toys … · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · Contractions & possessive …
8. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
“the women’s coats” · “the wom · Contractions & possessive …
9. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
“I’ve” · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will not” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
you’re
The apostrophe in “you’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
2. 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.
3. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
4. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
5. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
it’s
“It’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” (or “it has”).
6. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
the children’s toys
Because “children” is an irregular plural not ending in s, add ’s (“children’s”).
7. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
can’t
The apostrophe in “can’t” replaces the omitted letters “no” in “cannot”.
8. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
the women’s coats
“Women” is an irregular plural not ending in s, so add ’s (“women’s”).
9. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
I have
“I’ve” is the contraction of “I have”.
10. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
11. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
12. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will not”.

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification