Apostrophes for contraction KS1/KS2 – 8 of the best worksheets and resources for primary SPaG

What is an apostrophe?

When to use an apostrophe? They have two completely different uses:

• Apostrophes for contraction: Showing the place of missing letters (eg I’m for I am)
• Apostrophes for possession: Marking possessives (eg Hannah’s mother)

What is a contracted word?

A contracted word (or contraction) is a short word created by putting two words together and dropping one or more of the letters. These letters are replaced with an apostrophe, which shows where the letters would be if the words were written in full. They are used in informal writing or direct speech.

Apostrophe examples for contracted words

• don’t (do not)
• didn’t (did not)
• isn’t (is not)
• mustn’t (must not)
• they’re (they are)
• I’ll (I will)

Apostrophes for contraction are used all the time, especially in informal situations, yet grown adults still get confused about them every day.

Especially when figuring out ‘your’ or ‘you’re’ when posting on Facebook

Where exactly would we be without them? Songs wouldn’t be quite as catchy, that’s for sure

And we wouldn’t be able to sing along to Sure Shot by the Beastie Boys

But while the Beastie Boys specifically aren’t on the curriculum (Yet! Fingers crossed), knowing your its from your it’s is.

So these resources can help your Key Stage 1 and 2 students to use apostrophes for contraction and omission with ease.

1 | KS2 apostrophes for contraction lesson plan

‘Tea’s, coffee’s and snack’s’. ‘We are closed on Monday’s’. ‘CD’s and DVD’s’. These examples of high street signs show that it’s not just children who find using the apostrophe difficult. In fact, your class are about to help the adults out.

In this lesson they will learn how to use an apostrophe to show contraction or omission, singular possession and plural possession.

These activities would be most suitable for children from Years 3 to 6, although they could be adapted to suit Year 2.

Download this lesson plan here.

2 | How to use apostrophes in contractions

This BBC Bitesize page offers a short video on using apostrophes for contractions, plus a few interactive questions to try to make sure kids have understood the concept.

Give it all a go here.

3 | Year 2 apostrophes for contraction spelling and grammar worksheets

This 3-page worksheet for children in UKS1 is an excellent way of revising and practising contractions.

Students can be set the following activities as part of a classroom lesson, for assessment purposes or as a homework task:

• Add apostrophes to create contractions, identify the two words making up a contracted word and identify three contractions beginning with ‘they’
• Starting with a two image prompts, students combine two word pairs into two contractions and use said words in a written sentence about each picture
• Students identify word pairs inside five different sentences that can be contracted
• Write a short passage in response to an image prompt; the passage must include five contractions that students form themselves out of a list of 10 pre-selected words

Get this resource here.

4 | Year 2 contracted words bingo

This grammar Bingo game is a fun way to support pupils in Y2 to revisit using an apostrophe for contracted words. Pupils will match contractions to the words written in full and vice versa.

The game can be played as a class or in small groups and is perfect for adult led interventions to revisit key knowledge and skills.

This resource pack includes bingo caller cards, 10 bingo cards and teacher’s notes.

Get all this here.

5 | Contraction snap game

This printable PDF includes snap cards for students to play, where they need to match ‘would not’ with ‘wouldn’t’ etc.

Download and print here.

6 | Year 2 apostrophes for contraction SPaG challenge worksheets

These bright, appealing grammars worksheet are an excellent way to practise and revise using contractions in Y2.

It is divided into five sections: understand, challenge, test, explain and apply, and activities include SATs-style questions and opportunities for creative writing responses, with eye-catching images as prompts.

Check it out here.

7 | Year 2 apostrophes for possession and contraction worksheet

This bright, appealing grammar worksheet is an excellent way to practise and revise using apostrophes for possession and contraction in Year 2.

It is divided into five sections: understand, challenge, test, explain and apply, with SATs-style questions and opportunities for creative writing responses, with eye-catching images as prompts.

Get this one here.

8 | KS2 apostrophe quiz

If you’re after another quick means of testing prior knowledge or embedding learning, this interactive apostrophe quiz has 10 multiple choice questions where children need to pick the answer that has the apostrophe placed correctly.

Play it here.

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