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Apostrophes in Contractions: It's or Its, You're or Your — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 3rd Grade punctuation worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet3rd Grade · English · Punctuation

Apostrophes in Contractions: It's or Its, You're or Your — Answers

Part A: Build the contraction

In a contraction, the apostrophe (') takes the place of the missing letters. Write the contraction.

1.we have

Answer: we've

2.they are

Answer: they're

3.could not

Answer: couldn't

4.you will

Answer: you'll

5.it is

Answer: it's

6.will not

Answer: won't

Will not is a special one: it becomes won't.

Part B: Choose the right word

The test: try saying it is, you are, or they are in the blank. If it makes sense, use the word with the apostrophe. If not, use the word that shows ownership (its, your, their). Circle the right word.

7.The dog wagged ____ tail.
  1. Ait's
  2. Bits

Answer: its

Its shows that the tail belongs to the dog. "The dog wagged it is tail" makes no sense, so do not use it's.

8.____ going to rain this afternoon.
  1. AIt's
  2. BIts

Answer: It's

It's means it is: "It is going to rain."

9.Is this ____ jacket?
  1. Ayou're
  2. Byour

Answer: your

Your shows that the jacket belongs to you.

10.____ the fastest runner in our class.
  1. AYou're
  2. BYour

Answer: You're

You're means you are: "You are the fastest runner."

11.The twins left ____ backpacks on the bus.
  1. Athey're
  2. Btheir

Answer: their

Their shows that the backpacks belong to the twins.

12.____ coming to the game on Friday.
  1. AThey're
  2. BTheir

Answer: They're

They're means they are: "They are coming to the game."

Part C: Edit the sentence

Each sentence has one or two mistakes. Write it correctly.

13.The bird built it's nest in the oak tree.

Answer: The bird built its nest in the oak tree.

The nest belongs to the bird, so use its with no apostrophe.

14.Your going to love this book.

Answer: You're going to love this book.

You are going to love this book, so use you're.

15.I dont know where they're house is.

Answer: I don't know where their house is.

Don't needs an apostrophe for the missing o. The house belongs to them, so use their.

16.Its fun to play outside when its cool.

Answer: It's fun to play outside when it's cool.

Both mean it is, so both need an apostrophe.

Part D: True or false?

Circle True or False.

17.In a contraction, the apostrophe takes the place of missing letters.

Answer: True

18.Its with no apostrophe means it is.

Answer: False

It's (with an apostrophe) means it is. Its shows ownership.

19.Their shows that something belongs to more than one person.

Answer: True

20.You're is short for you are.

Answer: True

Part E: Your turn

21.Write three sentences about an animal. Use it's in one sentence, its in another, and any other contraction (like can't or don't) in the third.

Model answer: It's fun to watch my turtle swim. My turtle pulls its head into its shell when it is scared. Turtles can't move very fast on land.

Success criteria:

  • It's is used to mean it is
  • Its is used to show ownership, with no apostrophe
  • Another contraction is spelled with the apostrophe in the right place
  • Each sentence starts with a capital letter and has an end mark
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