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. Which form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
“the bird’s nest” · “the birds · Contractions & possessive …
2. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · Contractions & possessive …
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
“I’ve” · Contractions & possessive …
4. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
5. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
6. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
“you are” · Contractions & possessive …
7. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
8. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
Which form shows the toys … · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
“she will” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 46 · 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. Which form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
the bird’s nest
A singular possessive noun requires an apostrophe before the s (“bird’s”).
2. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
the teachers’ room
For a plural noun already ending in s (“teachers”), place the apostrophe after the s (“teachers’”).
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
I have
“I’ve” is the contraction of “I have”.
4. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
5. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
6. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
you’re
The apostrophe in “you’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
7. 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.
8. 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”).
9. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.
10. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
11. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
12. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
she’ll
The apostrophe in “she’ll” replaces the letters “wi” in “will”.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Which form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
“the bird’s nest” · “the birds · Contractions & possessive …
2. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · Contractions & possessive …
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
“I’ve” · Contractions & possessive …
4. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
5. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
6. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
“you are” · Contractions & possessive …
7. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
8. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
Which form shows the toys … · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
“she will” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Which form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
the bird’s nest
A singular possessive noun requires an apostrophe before the s (“bird’s”).
2. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
the teachers’ room
For a plural noun already ending in s (“teachers”), place the apostrophe after the s (“teachers’”).
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
I have
“I’ve” is the contraction of “I have”.
4. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
5. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
6. What is the contracted form of “you are”?
you’re
The apostrophe in “you’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
7. 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.
8. 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”).
9. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.
10. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
11. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
12. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
she’ll
The apostrophe in “she’ll” replaces the letters “wi” in “will”.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification