Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 6-7
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which one has an apostrophe because letters are missing?

    • can't
    • Sam's
    • dog's

  2. Which one is the right way to write 'she is' as one word?

    • shes'
    • she's
    • she'is

  3. Which one is the right way to write 'you are' as one word?

    • your
    • you'are
    • you're

  4. Which one shows that the bag belongs to Sam?

    • Sams' bag
    • Sam's bag
    • Sams bag

  5. 'They're' is short for which two words?

    • they were
    • there is
    • they are

  6. 'Couldn't' is short for which two words?

    • would not
    • could not
    • can not

  7. In "the cat's tail", what does the apostrophe show?

    • the tail belongs to the cat
    • the cat is missing
    • letters are missing

  8. Maya wrote 'is'nt' in her story. What went wrong?

    • The apostrophe is missing
    • The apostrophe is in the wrong place
    • Nothing, it is written correctly

  9. Why are there two apostrophes in this sentence? 'Tom's dog can't swim.'

    • One shows belonging, and one shows missing letters
    • Both show that letters are missing
    • Both show that something belongs to someone

  10. Maya wrote: 'I can't find Sams pencil.' What is wrong with her sentence?

    • Only can't needs an apostrophe
    • Both words need an apostrophe
    • Only Sams needs an apostrophe
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession W1-mt_mKAZTqItRG-s1

  1. can't · 'Can't' is cannot squashed into one word, with letters missing. Sam's and dog's use the apostrophe to show belonging.
  2. she's · When 'she is' squashes together, the i in is disappears, and the apostrophe sits right where it used to be: she's.
  3. you're · When you are squashes together, the a in are disappears. The apostrophe sits right where it used to be: you're.
  4. Sam's bag · Add apostrophe and s to show the bag belongs to one person: Sam's bag.
  5. they are · The apostrophe in they're stands in for the missing a in are. They're is short for they are.
  6. could not · The n't ending is 'not' with its o missing, so couldn't is short for could not.
  7. the tail belongs to the cat · The apostrophe and s show that the tail belongs to the cat.
  8. The apostrophe is in the wrong place · The apostrophe must sit where the missing letter was. The o in not vanished, so it belongs between n and t: isn't.
  9. One shows belonging, and one shows missing letters · Tom's shows the dog belongs to Tom, and can't is short for cannot. Each apostrophe is doing a different job.
  10. Only Sams needs an apostrophe · 'Can't' already has its apostrophe in the right spot. 'Sams' needs one because the pencil belongs to Sam: Sam's.
Worksheet · LightMySky