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Apostrophes

English Grammar and Skills Toolkit

Apostrophes

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Learning objectives

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In this unit you will…

Learn how apostrophes are used to show contractions

Learn how apostrophes are used to show possession

Learn about possessive pronouns

Look at the use of apostrophes to pluralize individual letters and digits

Learn when to use ‘it’s’ and when to use ‘its’

Identify misplaced and missing apostrophes in a piece of text

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The apostrophe (’) is the most commonly misused punctuation mark.

Why do we use apostrophes?

1. to show that one or more letters have been missed out in a word (contractions)

2. to show that something belongs to someone (possession)

They are used for two purposes:

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Contractions are words which have been shortened or merged together, where an apostrophe is used in place of the missing letters.

Contractions

For example: can’t

isn’t

What are the shortened forms of these sets of words?

don’t

they’re

Can you think of any other contractions?

will not she is are not we will

is short for can not

is short for is not

is short for they are

is short for do not

I have should not

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“I can’t do my homework tonight ’cause I don’t have my text book and, anyway, it’s not due ’til Monday.”

“I cannot do my homework tonight because I do not have my text book and, anyway, it is not due until Monday.”

We use contractions when speaking because they save time. They make our speech sound informal and conversational.

Contractions

Why do you think contractions are used?

Read the following statement.

How would it sound if no contractions were used?

Contractions should be avoided in formal writing such as essays and letters, as they make the

text sound too casual.

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Apostrophes are also used to show possession (who or what owns something).

Apostrophes to show possession

Singular possession is shown by adding an apostrophe and then an ‘s’ to the end of a noun (a person, animal, place or thing).

Tom’s skateboard the dog’s bowl

the car’s tyres

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Jo is listening to Tess’s music. ORJo is listening to Tess’ music.

When a singular noun already ends in ‘s’, we can add an apostrophe and then an ‘s’ to show possession OR we can just add an apostrophe.

Possession with singular nouns ending in ‘s’

All of the bus’s seats are full. ORAll of the bus’ seats are full.

For example:

This form is more commonly used because it looks less clumsy, but either form is

acceptable. The key is to be consistent!

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To show possession with a plural noun we just add an apostrophe to the end of the word.

Some plural nouns don’t end in ‘s’. For example, ‘children’.In this case, both an apostrophe and an ‘s’ are added to show possession: ‘the children’s playground’.

Plural possession

Can you think of any other plural nouns that do not end in ‘s’?

1. Both the films’ soundtracks are excellent.

2. The girls’ skill at football has improved a lot.

We do not add an extra ‘s’ to a plural nounbecause, in general, we do not pronounce it.

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Why do you think possessive pronouns are written without apostrophes? What could they be confused

with if they used apostrophes?

Possessive pronouns

The exception to the apostrophe rule are these possessive pronouns which show possession without apostrophes:

not your’s

not he’s

not her’s

not it’s

not our’s

not their’s

not who’s Whose football is it?

The bird flapped its wings.

My phone is better than yours.

It’s mine, not hers.

His new haircut is awful.

The planet is ours to protect.

The mess is all theirs.

yours

his

hers

its

ours

theirs

whose

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Apostrophes to show unusual plurals

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Many people get confused about when to use ‘it’s’ and when to use ‘its’.

‘It’s’ is used only for the contraction of the words ‘it is’.

‘It’s’ – an exception

Do you know when to use each form?

‘Its’ is used to show possession.

It is too late to change your order.It’s too late to change your order.

My cat does not like wearing its collar.

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It’s/its quiz

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Apostrophes activity