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CLASS

Language
Handbook

DATE

13 Punctuation

Using Apostrophes to Form Contractions

(Rule 13 g)

WORKSHEET 6

Exercise A Form contractions from the following word groups by inserting apostrophes
where they are needed. Write your answers on the lines provided.
EXAMPLE

they ve

1. they have

__________

1. we will

__________ 11. she is

__________

2. how is

__________ 12. we have

__________

3. there is

__________ 13. they are

__________

4. Sean is

__________ 14. I am

__________

5. 1999

__________ 15. would not

__________

6. will not

__________ 16. you are

__________

7. he is

__________ 17. it is

__________

8. he has

__________ 18. I will

__________

9. are not

__________ 19. is not

__________ 10. could have

Exercise B

__________ 20. they will

In the following sentences, underline the correct word or contraction in

parentheses.

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

EXAMPLES

1. (Theyre, Their) lights are off, so I assume (theyre, their) not

home tonight.
2. If the club (lets, lets) us work on the float, (lets, lets) work as
hard as we can.

1. (Theyre, Their) going to Bombay for (theyre, their) sons wedding.

2. (Youre, Your) face gets red when ( youre, your) angry.
3. (Its, Its) tail will wag when (its, its) happy.
4. (Whos, Whose) the lucky person (whos, whose) column was chosen?
5. (Lets, Lets) flip a coin to see who (lets, lets) in the cat.
6. (Theyre, Their) working hard on (theyre, their) garden.
7. (Its, Its) a badly trained dog that wont come when (its, its) master calls.
8. (Youre, Your) happiest of all in ( youre, your) own home.
9. (Whos, Whose) the girl (whos, whose) talking to Mr. Muoz?
10. (Its, Its) nice to know that Kathy trained her puppy away from (its, its) habit of chewing
visitors shoelaces.

Elements of Literature

Punctuation

155

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

13 Punctuation

parents
rabbis
mens
weeks
Herman Melvilles
schools
drivers
George Washington Carvers
babies
moneys
childrens
boys
Jorges
peoples
Saudi Arabias
girls
employees
mans
referees
nobodys

Exercise B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

dollars
nobodys
mother-in-laws
Thoreaus and Emersons
hours
Sashas
elses
Toms
Dunn,Waller, and Jones
Grandpas

Worksheet 6

Using Apostrophes to Form

Contractions
Exercise A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

50

well
hows
theres
Seans
99
wont
hes
hes

Language Handbook Worksheets

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

arent
couldve
shes
weve
theyre
Im
wouldnt
youre
its
Ill
isnt
theyll

Exercise B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Theyre, their
Your, youre
Its, its
Whos, whose
Lets, lets
Theyre, their
Its, its
Youre, your
Whos, whos
Its, its

Worksheet 7

Using Apostrophes
Exercise A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

C
as, shes
7s; 2s
Mexicos
mens, womens

Exercise B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

theyre
days, isnt
theres
J.J.s
cant, students
teachers
ones
schools, dollars
Weve, its (before possible)
Its, lifes

Elements of Literature

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Language
Handbook