2nd Grade ELA Quiz: Use Apostrophes For Contractions And Possessives

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Use Apostrophes For Contractions And Possessives, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for 2nd Grade ELA.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. dog's collar (correct answer)
2. dogs collar
3. dogs' collar

Explanation: This tests showing ownership. We add apostrophe + s to show one dog owns something. 'Dog's collar' means the collar belongs to one dog.

Question 2

1. didn't (correct answer)
2. didn,t
3. didnt

Explanation: We use apostrophes in contractions. Didn't means 'did not.' The apostrophe goes where the 'o' is missing.

Question 3

1. you're
2. your (correct answer)
3. you are
4. youre

Explanation: Choice B is correct because your shows that the book belongs to someone. Choice A is a contraction that means you are, which does not make sense in this sentence. Choice C also means you are, which does not fit here either. Choice D is missing the apostrophe and is not a real word. Use your when something belongs to someone.

Question 4

1. Emmas backpack
2. Emma's backpack (correct answer)
3. Emmas' backpack

Explanation: We use apostrophes to show ownership. Emma's means it belongs to Emma. Add apostrophe and 's' to show one person owns something.

Question 5

1. Theyre
2. They're (correct answer)
3. Their
4. There

Explanation: They're is short for they are, and the sentence means they are playing tag, so they're is correct. Theyre is missing the apostrophe, so it is not spelled correctly. Their shows that something belongs to a group, which does not fit this sentence. There tells about a place, which also does not fit this sentence.

Question 6

1. Emma backpack
2. Emma's backpack (correct answer)
3. Emmas' backpack
4. Emmas backpack

Explanation: Emma's backpack uses an apostrophe and s to show that the backpack belongs to Emma. Choice A is wrong because it is missing the apostrophe and s completely. Choice C is wrong because the apostrophe is in the wrong place for one owner. Choice D is wrong because it needs an apostrophe before the s to show ownership.

Question 7

1. dont
2. don't (correct answer)
3. do'nt
4. do not

Explanation: This tests CCSS.L.2.2.c (using apostrophes to form contractions and frequently occurring possessives). An apostrophe (') has two main uses in grade 2: (1) CONTRACTIONS: When we combine two words into one shorter word, the apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter(s). Examples: do not → don't (apostrophe replaces "o"), cannot → can't, I am → I'm, it is → it's, you are → you're, they are → they're, I will → I'll. (2) POSSESSIVES: To show that something belongs to someone, we add apostrophe + s ('s) to the end of a singular noun. Examples: Emma's book (book belonging to Emma), dog's collar (collar belonging to dog), teacher's desk (desk belonging to teacher). Watch out for confusing pairs: it's = it is (contraction), its = belonging to it (possessive, no apostrophe); you're = you are (contraction), your = belonging to you (possessive, no apostrophe); they're = they are (contraction), their = belonging to them (possessive, no apostrophe). Choice B is correct because "don't" shows the apostrophe in the correct place replacing the missing 'o' in the contraction for "do not." Choice A is incorrect because "dont" is missing the apostrophe, a common mistake where second graders forget to add it in contractions. To help students, create two anchor charts: (1) CONTRACTIONS: Show how two words combine with apostrophe replacing missing letters (do + not = don't, I + am = I'm, it + is = it's, you + are = you're). List frequently used contractions: can't, don't, won't, isn't, didn't, doesn't, I'm, it's, that's, you're, we're, they're, I'll. (2) POSSESSIVES: Show apostrophe + s pattern for singular ownership (Emma + 's = Emma's book, dog + 's = dog's collar). Practice expanding contractions: See "can't" → ask "What two words?" → cannot.

Question 8

1. were
2. we're (correct answer)
3. wer'e

Explanation: This tests contractions. "We're" means "we are." The apostrophe shows where the "a" is missing.

Question 9

1. dogs bowl
2. dog's bowl (correct answer)
3. dogs' bowl

Explanation: This tests possessives. "Dog's" shows one dog owns the bowl. The apostrophe and "s" mean "belongs to."

Question 10

1. cant
2. ca'nt
3. can't (correct answer)
4. can'nt

Explanation: This tests CCSS.L.2.2.c (using apostrophes to form contractions and frequently occurring possessives). An apostrophe (') has two main uses in grade 2: (1) CONTRACTIONS: When we combine two words into one shorter word, the apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter(s). Examples: do not → don't (apostrophe replaces "o"), cannot → can't, I am → I'm, it is → it's, you are → you're, they are → they're, I will → I'll. (2) POSSESSIVES: To show that something belongs to someone, we add apostrophe + s ('s) to the end of a singular noun. Examples: Emma's book (book belonging to Emma), dog's collar (collar belonging to dog), teacher's desk (desk belonging to teacher). Watch out for confusing pairs: it's = it is (contraction), its = belonging to it (possessive, no apostrophe); you're = you are (contraction), your = belonging to you (possessive, no apostrophe); they're = they are (contraction), their = belonging to them (possessive, no apostrophe). Choice C is correct because "can't" is the contraction for "cannot," with the apostrophe replacing the missing "no" in "not." Choice B "ca'nt" fails because it puts the apostrophe in the wrong place, and second graders often misplace apostrophes in contractions like ca'nt instead of can't. To help students: Create two anchor charts: (1) CONTRACTIONS: Show cannot + apostrophe = can't. List contractions like can't, don't, won't. Practice with physical apostrophe: Students hold cards and stand where the apostrophe goes in "cannot" on the board.

Question 11

1. Its
2. It's (correct answer)
3. Its'

Explanation: This tests contractions. "It's" means "it is." The apostrophe shows where the letter "i" is missing.

Question 12

1. dont
2. do'nt
3. don't (correct answer)

Explanation: This tests contractions. "Don't" is short for "do not." The apostrophe goes where the "o" is missing.

Question 13

1. Jamals
2. Jamal's (correct answer)
3. Jama'l

Explanation: The pencil belongs to Jamal, so the word needs an apostrophe to show ownership. Jamal's is correct because the apostrophe goes right before the final s. Jamals has no apostrophe at all, so it does not show ownership. Jama'l places the apostrophe in the middle of the name, which is not where it belongs.

Question 14

1. cant
2. ca'nt
3. can't (correct answer)

Explanation: This tests contractions. "Can't" is short for "cannot." The apostrophe shows where "no" is missing.

Question 15

1. it's
2. its (correct answer)
3. its'

Explanation: This tests possessives. "Its" shows the wings belong to the bird. No apostrophe is needed for "its" when it means ownership.

Question 16

1. Emmas book
2. Emma's book (correct answer)
3. Emmas' book

Explanation: This tests possessives. "Emma's" shows the book belongs to Emma. Add apostrophe and "s" to show ownership.

Question 17

1. Emmas book
2. Emma's book (correct answer)
3. Emmas' book

Explanation: This tests possessive names. We add apostrophe + s to Emma to show ownership. 'Emma's book' means the book belongs to Emma.

Question 18

1. students (correct answer)
2. pencils
3. missing

Explanation: The word students shows that the pencils belong to the students, so it needs an apostrophe: students'. Pencils just names the object and does not show belonging, so it does not need an apostrophe. Missing describes what happened to the pencils, so it does not need one either.

Question 19

1. Its
2. It's (correct answer)
3. It,s

Explanation: We use apostrophes in contractions. It's means 'it is.' The apostrophe shows where the letter 'i' is missing.

Question 20

1. teachers desk
2. teacher's desk (correct answer)
3. teacher,s desk

Explanation: We use apostrophes to show ownership. Teacher's means it belongs to the teacher. Add apostrophe and 's' to show ownership.