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.
You are learning about…
APOSTROPHES [.’.]
Look at these examples:
You didn’t wash your hands.
Emma’s computer came from the Apple Store.
“Can’t you see I’m trying to work?” snorted Alex O’Brien.
St James’ School is next to Sainsbury’s.
You are learning about…
APOSTROPHES [.’.]
APOSTROPHES are placed above the line, between letters:
 Mary’s
glasses couldn’t be repaired.
 Marys
glasses couldnt be repaired.
You are learning about…
APOSTROPHES [.’.]
APOSTROPHES are used in different ways.
It’s helpful to think of broadly two ways we use them:
1. OMISSION
To show when one or more letters have been missed out.
They couldn’t go to the show because they’d forgotten to buy any
tickets.
2. POSSESSION
To show ownership or belonging
Mary’s brother went to the local secondary school, St Michael’s.
You are learning about…
APOSTROPHES [.’.]
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...
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 [.’.]
Sometimes, one letter is missed out...
I am
I’m
she is
she’s
let us
let’s
they are
they’re
You are learning about…
APOSTROPHES [.’.]
Sometimes, more than one letter is missed out...
we would
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...
Your hat is hanging on that peg.
you’re is the contracted form of ‘you are’...
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...
Whose coat is that on the floor?
who is the contracted form of ‘who is’...
Who is going to put that litter in the bin?
Who’s going to put that litter in the bin?
You are learning about…
APOSTROPHES [.’.]
1. POSSESSION
To show ownership or belonging.
When writing about an object which belongs to someone or something,
we use an apostrophe for possession.
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 [.’.]
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’ pen
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.
You are learning about…
APOSTROPHES [.’.]
Other uses for apostrophes
in names
Kian O’Brien, Dermot O’Leary
time
five o’clock
names of places [when the noun is missing]
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.
> Only use APOSTROPHES for ‘it’ when contracting.
Created by Tom Richmond