EnglishAges 7-9

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Use apostrophes accurately in shortened verb contractions and singular or plural possessive nouns. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

New variation Try interactive challenge Browse templates

Age band:Ages 7-9 Ages 10-12

Choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Use your browser’s paper setting for A4 or Letter.

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …
2. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
“I’ve” · Contractions & possessive …
4. 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 …
5. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
6. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
7. 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 …
8. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
9. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
12. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
Which form shows the toys … · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.
2. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
I have
“I’ve” is the contraction of “I have”.
4. 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”).
5. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
6. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Who’s
“Who’s” is the contraction of “Who is”.
7. 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”).
8. 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.
9. 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’”).
10. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
can’t
The apostrophe in “can’t” replaces the omitted letters “no” in “cannot”.
11. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
12. 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”).

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …
2. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
“I’ve” · Contractions & possessive …
4. 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 …
5. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
6. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
7. 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 …
8. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
9. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · Contractions & possessive …
10. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · Contractions & possessive …
11. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
12. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
Which form shows the toys … · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.
2. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
3. What two words are combined in the contraction “I’ve”?
I have
“I’ve” is the contraction of “I have”.
4. 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”).
5. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
6. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Who’s
“Who’s” is the contraction of “Who is”.
7. 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”).
8. 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.
9. 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’”).
10. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
can’t
The apostrophe in “can’t” replaces the omitted letters “no” in “cannot”.
11. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
12. 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”).

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification