Language Arts: Apostrophes: Possession and Contractions
Using apostrophes to show ownership and form contractions
Language Arts: Apostrophes: Possession and Contractions
Using apostrophes to show ownership and form contractions
Language Arts - Grade 4-5
- 1
Rewrite this phrase to show possession: the backpack of Maya.
A singular noun usually adds apostrophe s to show ownership.
The correct phrase is Maya's backpack. The apostrophe and s show that the backpack belongs to Maya. - 2
Rewrite this contraction in its full form: can't.
The full form of can't is cannot. The apostrophe shows that letters have been left out. - 3
Choose the correct sentence: The dog's bowl is full. or The dogs bowl is full.
Look for a word that shows ownership.
The correct sentence is The dog's bowl is full. The apostrophe shows that the bowl belongs to the dog. - 4
Write the contraction for these two words: they are.
The contraction is they're. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter a in are. - 5
Rewrite this phrase to show possession: the bikes of the girls.
When a plural noun already ends in s, add only an apostrophe.
The correct phrase is the girls' bikes. The apostrophe after the s shows that the bikes belong to more than one girl. - 6
Fix the apostrophe mistake in this sentence: Its raining outside.
The corrected sentence is It's raining outside. The apostrophe shows that it's is a contraction for it is. - 7
Rewrite this phrase to show possession: the tail of the cat.
This is one cat, so use a singular possessive form.
The correct phrase is the cat's tail. The apostrophe and s show that the tail belongs to the cat. - 8
Rewrite this contraction in its full form: we'll.
The full form of we'll is we will. The apostrophe shows that letters have been omitted. - 9
Choose the correct sentence: James's notebook was on the desk. or James notebook was on the desk.
A name can also show possession with an apostrophe.
The correct sentence is James's notebook was on the desk. The apostrophe shows that the notebook belongs to James. - 10
Write the contraction for these two words: do not.
The contraction is don't. The apostrophe replaces the missing o in not. - 11
Fix the apostrophe mistake in this phrase: the puppy's toys for three puppies.
This phrase is about several puppies, not one puppy.
The corrected phrase is the puppies' toys. The apostrophe after the s shows that the toys belong to more than one puppy. - 12
Rewrite this sentence correctly: Were going to visit our cousins house.
The corrected sentence is We're going to visit our cousin's house. We're is a contraction for we are, and cousin's shows that the house belongs to one cousin. - 13
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: The bird spread its wings. or The bird spread it's wings.
One choice shows ownership, and the other is a contraction for it is.
The correct sentence is The bird spread its wings. The word its is a possessive word and does not use an apostrophe. - 14
Write the contraction for these two words: I am.
The contraction is I'm. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter a in am. - 15
Rewrite this sentence correctly: The teachers lounge is closed because theyre cleaning it.
This sentence needs one possessive apostrophe and one contraction apostrophe.
The corrected sentence is The teachers' lounge is closed because they're cleaning it. The apostrophe after teachers shows that the lounge belongs to more than one teacher, and they're is a contraction for they are.