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.

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Age band:Ages 7-9 Ages 10-12

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

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. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will 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 form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
“the bird’s nest” · “the birds · Contractions & possessive …
5. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
“the women’s coats” · “the wom · Contractions & possessive …
6. 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 …
7. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
“did not” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
“do not” · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
10. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
11. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 43 · 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. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
2. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will 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 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”).
5. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
the women’s coats
“Women” is an irregular plural not ending in s, so add ’s (“women’s”).
6. 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”).
7. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
didn’t
The apostrophe in “didn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
8. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
don’t
The apostrophe in “don’t” replaces the omitted letter “o” in “not”.
9. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
10. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Who’s
“Who’s” is the contraction of “Who is”.
11. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
12. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

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. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will 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 form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
“the bird’s nest” · “the birds · Contractions & possessive …
5. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
“the women’s coats” · “the wom · Contractions & possessive …
6. 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 …
7. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
“did not” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
“do not” · Contractions & possessive …
9. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
“I am” · Contractions & possessive …
10. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
11. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
“shouldn’t” · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9

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. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will 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 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”).
5. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
the women’s coats
“Women” is an irregular plural not ending in s, so add ’s (“women’s”).
6. 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”).
7. What is the contracted form of “did not”?
didn’t
The apostrophe in “didn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
8. What is the contracted form of “do not”?
don’t
The apostrophe in “don’t” replaces the omitted letter “o” in “not”.
9. What is the contracted form of “I am”?
I’m
The apostrophe in “I’m” replaces the omitted letter “a” in “am”.
10. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Who’s
“Who’s” is the contraction of “Who is”.
11. What two words are combined in the contraction “shouldn’t”?
should not
“Shouldn’t” is the contraction of “should not”.
12. What is the contracted form of “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification