This Power Point is about the punctuation mark:

APOSTROPHE

.’

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

Punctuation helps a reader understand both the

rhythm and meaning of a sentence.

Look at these examples: You didn’t wash your hands.

Emma’s computer came from the Apple Store.

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

“Can’t you see I’m trying to work?” snorted Alex O’Brien.

St James’ School is next to Sainsbury’s.

Mary’s glasses couldn’t be repaired.

APOSTROPHES are placed above the line, between letters:

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

Marys glasses couldnt be repaired.

1. OMISSION To show when one or more letters have been missed out.

APOSTROPHES are used in different ways. It’s helpful to think of broadly two ways we use them:

They couldn’t go to the show because they’d forgotten to buy any tickets.

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

2. POSSESSION To show ownership or belonging

Mary’s brother went to the local secondary school, St Michael’s.

1. OMISSION To show when one or more letters have been missed out.

When words are contracted (shortened, pushed together), an apostrophe is placed in the new word to indicate that letters have been missed out...

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

Long form Contracted form

is not isn’t

could not couldn’t

will not won’t

they would they’d

were not weren’t

you are you’re

she is she’s

we are we’re

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

I am

Sometimes, one letter is missed out...

I’m

she is she’s

let us let’s

they are they’re

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

we would

Sometimes, more than one letter is missed out...

we’d

he has he’s

might have might’ve

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

A common mistake with apostrophes for omission is your and you’re...

your is a possessive pronoun...

you’re is the contracted form of ‘you are’...

Your hat is hanging on that peg.

You are not going to go outside without putting on a coat. You’re not going to go outside without putting on a coat.

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

Another common mistake is whose and who’s

whose is a possessive pronoun...

who is the contracted form of ‘who is’...

Whose coat is that on the floor?

Who is going to put that litter in the bin? Who’s going to put that litter in the bin?

1. POSSESSION To show ownership or belonging.

When writing about an object which belongs to someone or something, we use an apostrophe for possession.

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

the book belongs to Amy Amy’s book

the school is named after St Philip

St Philip’s Primary School

Jamie has a sister Jamie’s sister

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

James’ pen

When the word already ends in an ‘s’, you can add an apostrophe for possession after the word OR add an apostrophe and another ‘s’...

James’s pen

Mrs Moss’ classroom Mrs Moss’s classroom

the bus’ rear wheels the bus’s rear wheels

Paris’ tourist attractions Paris’s tourist attractions

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

You need to use an apostrophe even if you don’t include the noun...

That hat was my father’s. [hat]

There is your pen, so where is Angela’s? [pen]

“Whose food is that?” “The cat’s.” [food]

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

You do not use an apostrophe to pluralise a noun...

The pig rolled in the mud all day.

The pig’s rolled in the mud all day.

The pigs rolled in the mud all day.

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

When the noun is already plural, add the apostrophe after the plural noun...

The cat’s whiskers were very long. [there is one cat]

The cats’ whiskers were very long. [there is more than one cat]

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

My brother’s books were all over the floor. [there is one brother]

My brothers’ books were all over the floor. [there is more than one brother]

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

Look how the position of the apostrophe can change the meaning in a sentence...

My sister’s friend’s toys. the toys which belong to a friend of my sister

My sisters’ friend’s toys. the toys which belong to a friend of my sisters

My sister’s friends’ toys. the toys which belong to some friends of my sister

My sisters’ friends’ toys. the toys which belong to some friends of my sisters

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours, whose. They already show possession so they do not need an apostrophe.

This book is her’s, not your’s.

This book is hers, not yours.

There is one big difference between the cars: our’s is blue but

their’s is green.

There is one big different between the cars: ours is blue but

theirs is green.

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

its and it’s Only use an apostrophe for ‘it’ when contracting...

It has been empty for many years.

It’s been empty for many years.

It is important to remember your homework.

It’s important to remember your homework.

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

its and it’s DO NOT USE an apostrophe for possession for ‘it’ .

The lion raised it’s head and flicked it’s tail.

The lion raised its head and flicked its tail.

Other uses for apostrophes

in names

time

names of places [when the noun is missing]

Kian O’Brien, Dermot O’Leary

five o’clock

Sainsbury’s [Supermarket] McDonald’s [Restaurant] St Philip’s [School]

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

How many mistakes can you identify?

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

SUMMARY > APOSTROPHES are used for omission and possession.

> Do not use APOSTROPHES to make a noun plural.

Created by Tom Richmond

You are learning about… APOSTROPHES [.’.]

> Only use APOSTROPHES for ‘it’ when contracting.