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 two words are combined in the contraction “we’re”?
“we’re” · Contractions & possessive …
2. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
“I’ve” · Contractions & possessive …
4. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
5. 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 …
6. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
“she will” · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
“it is” · Contractions & possessive …
11. 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 …
12. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
“did not” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 51 · 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 “we’re”?
we are
“We’re” is the contraction of “we are”.
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 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 “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
5. 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.
6. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
7. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
8. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.
9. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
she’ll
The apostrophe in “she’ll” replaces the letters “wi” in “will”.
10. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
it’s
“It’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” (or “it has”).
11. 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”).
12. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
didn’t
The apostrophe in “didn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.

12 questions · Seed 51 · 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 “we’re”?
“we’re” · Contractions & possessive …
2. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
“I’ve” · Contractions & possessive …
4. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
5. 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 …
6. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
“she will” · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
“it is” · Contractions & possessive …
11. 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 …
12. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
“did not” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 51 · 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 “we’re”?
we are
“We’re” is the contraction of “we are”.
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 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 “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
5. 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.
6. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
7. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
8. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.
9. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
she’ll
The apostrophe in “she’ll” replaces the letters “wi” in “will”.
10. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
it’s
“It’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” (or “it has”).
11. 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”).
12. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
didn’t
The apostrophe in “didn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.

12 questions · Seed 51 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification