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 “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
2. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
“do not” · Contractions & possessive …
3. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
4. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …
6. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · Contractions & possessive …
8. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · Contractions & possessive …
9. 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 …
10. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will not” · Contractions & possessive …
11. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · 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 58 · 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 “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
2. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
don’t
The apostrophe in “don’t” replaces the omitted letter “o” in “not”.
3. 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.
4. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
5. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
6. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
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 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’”).
9. 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.
10. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will not”.
11. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Who’s
“Who’s” is the contraction of “Who is”.
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 58 · 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 “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
2. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
“do not” · Contractions & possessive …
3. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
4. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …
6. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · Contractions & possessive …
8. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · Contractions & possessive …
9. 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 …
10. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will not” · Contractions & possessive …
11. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · 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 58 · 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 “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
2. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
don’t
The apostrophe in “don’t” replaces the omitted letter “o” in “not”.
3. 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.
4. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
5. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
6. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
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 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’”).
9. 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.
10. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will not”.
11. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Who’s
“Who’s” is the contraction of “Who is”.
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 58 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification