Worksheet for practicing possessive apostrophes in English grammar.
A worksheet titled "Apostrophes" with instructions to add missing possessive apostrophes, featuring five sentences with errors and a cartoon owl and child reading a book.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Apostrophe Worksheets - Possessive Apostrophes | English Worksheets
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Apostrophe Worksheets - Possessive Apostrophes | English Worksheets
Let's solve this apostrophe worksheet step by step. The task is to add the missing possessive apostrophes to show ownership or possession.
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- For singular nouns, add 's (e.g., *the dog’s tail*).
- For plural nouns ending in -s, add only ’ (e.g., *the girls’ toys*).
- For plural nouns not ending in -s, add 's (e.g., *the children’s books*).
Now, let’s go through each sentence:
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- "brothers" → should be brother’s (singular possessive)
- "Marys" → should be Mary’s (singular possessive)
✔ Corrected:
Her brother’s house was an absolute mess. Mary’s hands got worn down from cleaning.
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- "farmers" → farmer’s (singular possessive – one farmer owns the cattle)
- "cows calves" → cow’s calves (one cow’s calves; singular possessive)
Note: “Cattle” is a plural noun, but we’re talking about the calves of the cows, so we use cow’s calves.
✔ Corrected:
The farmer’s cattle ran away. The cow’s calves got all the way across the road.
> ⚠️ Note: If it were multiple cows, you'd say *cows’ calves*, but here “cows” seems like a typo for “cow” (singular). So “cow’s calves” is correct.
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- "Jims" → Jim’s (possessive)
- "seats leather" → seat’s leather (leather belonging to the seat)
✔ Corrected:
Jim’s new car was so nice and clean. The seat’s leather was really soft to sit on.
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- "dogs litter" → dog’s litter (litter belonging to one dog)
- "One dogs tail" → one dog’s tail (possessive)
✔ Corrected:
The dog’s litter were hungry little critters. One dog’s tail constantly wagged while eating.
> 💡 Note: “Litter” is a collective noun, but here it refers to the puppies born to a single dog, so “dog’s litter” makes sense.
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- "Sallys" → Sally’s (possessive)
- "sisters coach" → sister’s coach (coach of her sister)
✔ Corrected:
Sally’s sister loved playing soccer. Her sister’s coach was the best in town.
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1. Her brother’s house was an absolute mess. Mary’s hands got worn down from cleaning.
2. The farmer’s cattle ran away. The cow’s calves got all the way across the road.
3. Jim’s new car was so nice and clean. The seat’s leather was really soft to sit on.
4. The dog’s litter were hungry little critters. One dog’s tail constantly wagged while eating.
5. Sally’s sister loved playing soccer. Her sister’s coach was the best in town.
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| Original | Corrected |
|--------|----------|
| brothers | brother’s |
| Marys | Mary’s |
| farmers | farmer’s |
| cows calves | cow’s calves |
| Jims | Jim’s |
| seats leather | seat’s leather |
| dogs litter | dog’s litter |
| One dogs tail | One dog’s tail |
| Sallys | Sally’s |
| sisters coach | sister’s coach |
This worksheet helps students practice possessive apostrophes in both singular and plural contexts. Great job! 🎉
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🔹 Rule Reminder:
- For singular nouns, add 's (e.g., *the dog’s tail*).
- For plural nouns ending in -s, add only ’ (e.g., *the girls’ toys*).
- For plural nouns not ending in -s, add 's (e.g., *the children’s books*).
Now, let’s go through each sentence:
---
1. Her brothers house was an absolute mess. Marys hands got worn down from cleaning.
- "brothers" → should be brother’s (singular possessive)
- "Marys" → should be Mary’s (singular possessive)
✔ Corrected:
Her brother’s house was an absolute mess. Mary’s hands got worn down from cleaning.
---
2. The farmers cattle ran away. The cows calves got all the way across the road.
- "farmers" → farmer’s (singular possessive – one farmer owns the cattle)
- "cows calves" → cow’s calves (one cow’s calves; singular possessive)
Note: “Cattle” is a plural noun, but we’re talking about the calves of the cows, so we use cow’s calves.
✔ Corrected:
The farmer’s cattle ran away. The cow’s calves got all the way across the road.
> ⚠️ Note: If it were multiple cows, you'd say *cows’ calves*, but here “cows” seems like a typo for “cow” (singular). So “cow’s calves” is correct.
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3. Jims new car was so nice and clean. The seats leather was really soft to sit on.
- "Jims" → Jim’s (possessive)
- "seats leather" → seat’s leather (leather belonging to the seat)
✔ Corrected:
Jim’s new car was so nice and clean. The seat’s leather was really soft to sit on.
---
4. The dogs litter were hungry little critters. One dogs tail constantly wagged while eating.
- "dogs litter" → dog’s litter (litter belonging to one dog)
- "One dogs tail" → one dog’s tail (possessive)
✔ Corrected:
The dog’s litter were hungry little critters. One dog’s tail constantly wagged while eating.
> 💡 Note: “Litter” is a collective noun, but here it refers to the puppies born to a single dog, so “dog’s litter” makes sense.
---
5. Sallys sister loved playing soccer. Her sisters coach was the best in town.
- "Sallys" → Sally’s (possessive)
- "sisters coach" → sister’s coach (coach of her sister)
✔ Corrected:
Sally’s sister loved playing soccer. Her sister’s coach was the best in town.
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✔ Final Answer with Corrections:
1. Her brother’s house was an absolute mess. Mary’s hands got worn down from cleaning.
2. The farmer’s cattle ran away. The cow’s calves got all the way across the road.
3. Jim’s new car was so nice and clean. The seat’s leather was really soft to sit on.
4. The dog’s litter were hungry little critters. One dog’s tail constantly wagged while eating.
5. Sally’s sister loved playing soccer. Her sister’s coach was the best in town.
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📝 Summary of Changes:
| Original | Corrected |
|--------|----------|
| brothers | brother’s |
| Marys | Mary’s |
| farmers | farmer’s |
| cows calves | cow’s calves |
| Jims | Jim’s |
| seats leather | seat’s leather |
| dogs litter | dog’s litter |
| One dogs tail | One dog’s tail |
| Sallys | Sally’s |
| sisters coach | sister’s coach |
This worksheet helps students practice possessive apostrophes in both singular and plural contexts. Great job! 🎉
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of apostrophe possessive worksheet.