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Grade 5Apostrophes for PossessionApplication

Apostrophes for Possession Worksheet — Grade 5

Grade 5 apostrophe worksheet drilling singular and plural possessives, its versus it's, and possessives versus plain plurals across four exercise types.

Apostrophes for possession are among the most commonly confused marks in student writing, and Grade 5 is the right moment to sharpen that skill. This worksheet asks students to move beyond memorizing a rule and begin applying it in realistic sentences: spotting possessives in context, choosing between tricky pairs like its and it's, correcting real errors, and writing a new sentence on their own. The four-part structure builds gradually — students first recognize correct forms, then select among wrong and right options, then fix broken sentences, and finally compose one themselves. Work through each section in order. When your student can explain why they added or removed an apostrophe, the rule has taken hold.

Apostrophes for Possession Worksheet — Grade 5

Read each section's directions carefully, then apply the apostrophe rule to show possession, choose between forms, or write your own example.

Remember

  • Add 's to a singular noun to show ownership: the pilot's logbook, Sofia's pencil case.
  • For a plural noun already ending in s, add only ' after the s: the runners' medals, both classes' work.
  • Its means belonging to it (the tree lost its bark). It's means it is. Never put an apostrophe on a plain plural.

Part A — Find the Possessives

Circle the possessive noun in each sentence.

  1. 1.

    The science teacher's bulletin board was filled with student drawings.

  2. 2.

    All three coaches' whistles were left in the gymnasium after practice.

  3. 3.

    Lena borrowed her classmate's colored pencils for the art project.

  4. 4.

    The storm damaged the oak tree's branches during the night.

  5. 5.

    Both scientists' findings were published in the school newsletter.

Part B — Choose the Correct Form

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

  1. 6.

    The ____ backpack was left by the water fountain after lunch.

    1. a)student's
    2. b)students
    3. c)students'
  2. 7.

    The maple tree lost ____ leaves early this year because of the drought.

    1. a)it's
    2. b)its
    3. c)its'
  3. 8.

    All four ____ science reports were displayed in the hallway.

    1. a)classes'
    2. b)class's
    3. c)classes
  4. 9.

    ____ a good idea to check your work before handing it in.

    1. a)Its
    2. b)It's
    3. c)Its'
  5. 10.

    The science fair judge read each ____ written report carefully.

    1. a)student's
    2. b)students'
    3. c)students

Part C — Fix the Error

Rewrite each sentence so the apostrophe is used correctly.

  1. 11.

    The librarians new cart was filled with books about space.

  2. 12.

    Both players helmets were left in the locker room after the game.

  3. 13.

    The puppy wagged it's tail whenever anyone walked through the door.

  4. 14.

    Marcos lunch box had his initials written on the side in marker.

Part D — Write Your Own

Write one sentence using a plural possessive noun to show that more than one person or animal owns something.

  1. 15.

    Write one sentence using a plural possessive noun to show that more than one person or animal owns something.

Answer key

Part A — Find the Possessives

  1. 1.teacher's
  2. 2.coaches'
  3. 3.classmate's
  4. 4.tree's
  5. 5.scientists'

Part B — Choose the Correct Form

  1. 6.student's
  2. 7.its
  3. 8.classes'
  4. 9.It's
  5. 10.student's

Part C — Fix the Error

  1. 11.The librarian's new cart was filled with books about space.
  2. 12.Both players' helmets were left in the locker room after the game.
  3. 13.The puppy wagged its tail whenever anyone walked through the door.
  4. 14.Marco's lunch box had his initials written on the side in marker.

Part D — Write Your Own

  1. 15.Example: The three students' artwork was displayed along the hallway wall.

What this worksheet teaches

  • Identify singular and plural possessive nouns correctly marked in a sentence.
  • Choose correctly between its and it's, and between a possessive and a plain plural.
  • Correct apostrophe errors in sentences and write an original plural possessive noun.

What is on the page

Part B — Choose the Correct Form prints “The ____ backpack was left by the water fountain after lunch.” with the options “student's”, “students” and “students'”; the key gives “student's”.

In Part C — Fix the Error, “The librarians new cart was filled with books about space.” is corrected in the key to “The librarian's new cart was filled with books about space.”

The language it drills

“The science teacher's bulletin board was filled with student drawings.” has one answer in the key: “teacher's”.

Notes for the grown-up

  • Students often add an apostrophe to every noun ending in s, confusing plain plurals like 'dogs' with possessives like 'dog's.'
  • If a student writes it's for its, have them try replacing it with 'it is' — the sentence will sound wrong, signaling the error.
  • A student is ready to move on when they can state whether an owner is singular or plural before adding any apostrophe.

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