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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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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 …
2. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
3. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · 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 “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …
6. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will not” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
9. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · 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. 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 …

12 questions · Seed 53 · 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 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.
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. 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’”).
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 “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.
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. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will not”.
8. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
9. 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.
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. 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”).

12 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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 …
2. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
3. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · 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 “he is”?
“he is” · Contractions & possessive …
6. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
“will not” · Contractions & possessive …
8. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
“could not” · Contractions & possessive …
9. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · 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. 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 …

12 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
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. 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’”).
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 “he is”?
he’s
The apostrophe in “he’s” replaces the letter “i” in “is”.
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. What is the contracted form of “will not”?
won’t
“Won’t” is the irregular contraction of “will not”.
8. What is the contracted form of “could not”?
couldn’t
The apostrophe in “couldn’t” replaces the letter “o” in “not”.
9. 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.
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. 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”).

12 questions · Seed 53 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification