Apostrophes in Contractions Worksheet — Grade 3
Grade 3 students practice placing apostrophes correctly in contractions and expanding contractions back into two words, across three targeted exercise types.
Contractions combine two words into one by replacing one or more letters with an apostrophe. Third graders meet contractions in nearly every book they read and every paragraph they write, so knowing exactly where to place the apostrophe is a foundational writing skill. A misplaced apostrophe — or a missing one — changes how a word looks and can confuse readers. This worksheet focuses on that precision: not just recognizing contractions, but placing the apostrophe in the right position every time. The three sections build on each other, moving from spotting contractions in sentences, to choosing the right contraction for a blank, to correcting apostrophes placed in the wrong spot. Work through the sections in order and check the rule box whenever you need a reminder.
Apostrophes in Contractions Worksheet — Grade 3
An apostrophe takes the place of missing letters in a contraction. Follow the directions in each section to show what you know.
Remember
- A contraction joins two words into one shorter word by leaving out one or more letters.
- An apostrophe ( ' ) goes in the exact spot where the letters were removed. Example: do not = don't
- The apostrophe must land on the missing letters, not somewhere else. ca'nt is wrong; can't is right.
Part A — Find the Contraction
Circle the contraction in each sentence.
- 1.
She didn't finish her science project before class today.
- 2.
I'm going to the library to find a book about frogs.
- 3.
We're learning about plants in science class this week.
- 4.
It's a good idea to read for twenty minutes every night.
Part B — Fill in the Contraction
Write the correct contraction in each blank to complete the sentence.
- 5.
Omar ____ bring his lunch, so he bought one in the cafeteria.
- 6.
Priya says ____ ready to start the math test right now.
- 7.
The students ____ going to the gym because it is raining.
- 8.
You ____ need to worry because the answer is on the board.
Part C — Fix the Apostrophe
Each sentence has a contraction with a missing or misplaced apostrophe. Rewrite the sentence correctly.
- 9.
Lena didnt want to miss the school play this year.
- 10.
The cat is'nt allowed on the classroom rug during reading.
- 11.
He ca'nt find his pencil anywhere in the supply drawer.
- 12.
They wo'nt have time to finish the puzzle before lunch.
Answer key
Part A — Find the Contraction
- 1.didn't
- 2.I'm
- 3.We're
- 4.It's
Part B — Fill in the Contraction
- 5.didn't
- 6.she's
- 7.aren't
- 8.don't
Part C — Fix the Apostrophe
- 9.Lena didn't want to miss the school play this year.
- 10.The cat isn't allowed on the classroom rug during reading.
- 11.He can't find his pencil anywhere in the supply drawer.
- 12.They won't have time to finish the puzzle before lunch.
What this worksheet teaches
- Identify contractions in sentences and name the two words each comes from.
- Choose the correct contraction to complete a sentence using context clues.
- Correct an apostrophe that has been placed in the wrong spot in a contraction.
What is on the page
In Part C — Fix the Apostrophe, “Lena didnt want to miss the school play this year.” is corrected in the key to “Lena didn't want to miss the school play this year.”
The language it drills
“I'm going to the library to find a book about frogs.” has one answer in the key: “I'm”.
Notes for the grown-up
- Students at this level often leave the apostrophe out entirely, writing 'dont' or 'wont' instead of the contraction.
- When a student errs, have them write both words out, cross off the dropped letters, and place the mark in that gap.
- A student is ready to move on when they can expand any contraction and rewrite it correctly without checking the rule box.
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