English for Academic Skills
Independence
[EASI]
Session 6
Punctuation
By the end of this session you will be able to……
• use the apostrophe (’) to show contraction
Quiz
Where should apostrophes go in these sentences?
Kirkness (2005) model can provide an accurate
assessment of a student level of vocabulary.
Both countries economies have experienced dramatic
recessions as a result of the stockbrokers greed.
Quiz: Answers
Where should apostrophes go in these sentences?
Kirkness’s (2005) model can provide an accurate
assessment of a student’s level of vocabulary.
Both countries’ economies have experienced dramatic
recessions as a result of the stockbrokers’ greed.
Activity
Which of these are correct?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fish and chip’s
Rule’s and regulations
Myths and legend’s
Trials and tribulations
At university: masters and bachelors degrees
etc
Activity
Answers
•
•
•
•
•
Fish and chips
Rules and regulations
Myths and legends
Trials and tribulations
At university: master’s and bachelor’s degrees
Contraction
• An apostrophe may be used to show that a letter is
missing from a word
• Informal writing
• Oral presentations
• Not in academic writing
Common contractions
Words
Contraction
I am
I'm
we have
we’ve
you will
you’ll
he is
he’s
they would
they’d
will not
won’t
were not
weren’t
was not
wasn’t
would not
wouldn't
is not
isn’t
can not
can’t
Any
patterns?
Common contractions
Words
Contraction
I am
I'm
we have
we’ve
you will
you’ll
he is
he’s
they would
they’d
will not
won’t
were not
weren’t
was not
wasn’t
would not
wouldn't
is not
isn’t
can not
can’t
Any
patterns?
Common contractions
Words
Contraction
I am
I'm
we have
we’ve
you will
you’ll
he is
he’s
they would
they’d
will not
won’t
were not
weren’t
was not
wasn’t
would not
wouldn't
is not
isn’t
can not
can’t
Any
patterns?
Exercise (informal writing only)
Imagine you are writing a reflective journal entry. Fill in
the gaps with it’s or its:
•
•
•
•
___ useful to apply a reflective model …
___ been an interesting experience …
The group achieved ___ objectives
___ interesting to consider how I might approach this
differently in the future
Exercise (informal writing only)
Imagine you are writing a reflective journal entry. Fill in
the gaps with it’s or its:
•
•
•
•
It’s useful to apply a reflective model …
It’s been an interesting experience …
The group achieved its objectives
It’s interesting to consider how I might approach this
differently in the future
Traps…
• It's and Its
– It's is a contraction of it is or it has
• It’s nice to see you. it is
• It’s been a beautiful day. it has
– Its is a determiner
• The committee considered its options.
Remember the rule: if you can replace ‘its’ with ‘his’
or ‘her’ then there is no apostrophe.
Which is correct?
they’re
their
there
The group members achieved ___ objectives.
___ has to be a better way.
___ going to meet at 10 am.
Which is correct?
they’re
their
there
The group members achieved their objectives.
There has to be a better way.
They’re going to meet at 10 am.
Learn these …
they’re
they are
their
my
your
his
her
its
our
your
their
there
not here
Traps…
they're, their and there
– They’re is a contraction of
They are
• They’re late.
– Their is a determiner
• That is their normal
behaviour.
– There is used to say where
something is
• It is there, on the table.
In academic
writing, use the
full form
Homework
http://www.mcwdn.org/contract/final/final.html