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

12 questions · Seed 59 · 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 word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
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. 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”).
4. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
5. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
can’t
The apostrophe in “can’t” replaces the omitted letters “no” in “cannot”.
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 “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
8. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
she’ll
The apostrophe in “she’ll” replaces the letters “wi” in “will”.
9. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
it’s
“It’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” (or “it has”).
10. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
don’t
The apostrophe in “don’t” replaces the omitted letter “o” in “not”.
11. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
didn’t
The apostrophe in “didn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
12. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.

12 questions · Seed 59 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · 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. 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 …
4. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · 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 “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
“she will” · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
“it is” · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
“do not” · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
“did not” · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 59 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
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. 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”).
4. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
5. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
can’t
The apostrophe in “can’t” replaces the omitted letters “no” in “cannot”.
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 “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
8. What is the contracted form of “she will”?
she’ll
The apostrophe in “she’ll” replaces the letters “wi” in “will”.
9. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
it’s
“It’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” (or “it has”).
10. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
don’t
The apostrophe in “don’t” replaces the omitted letter “o” in “not”.
11. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
didn’t
The apostrophe in “didn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
12. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.

12 questions · Seed 59 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification