Apostrophes
An apostrophe shows that letters are missing in a contraction or that something belongs to someone.
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An apostrophe shows that letters are missing in a contraction or that something belongs to someone.
- Contraction: do not becomes don't
- Possession: the dog's bone
- Its means belonging to it while it's means it is
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Apostrophes?
Within English, which covers grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, poetry, drama and the skills for clear communication, this topic explains Apostrophes. English topics help you read closely and write with purpose, so each one here explains a skill and shows how it works in a model text.
Check that you can explain Apostrophes in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Apostrophes helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
Apostrophes in detail
Apostrophes have two main uses: showing possession and marking missing letters in contractions. For singular nouns, add 's (the girl's bag), for plural nouns ending in s, add only an apostrophe (the girls' bags) and for irregular plurals, add 's (children's toys).
In contractions, the apostrophe replaces letters: do not becomes don't, it is becomes it's. Common errors are using an apostrophe for ordinary plurals (apple's) and confusing "it's" (it is) with "its" (belonging to it). Possessive pronouns (yours, hers, theirs) never take an apostrophe.
How the interactive helps you understand Apostrophes
Click a card to flip it and reveal the answer, then move on to the next one.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Apostrophes.
Real-life uses and examples
- Spot Apostrophes when you read a poem, story or speech, then explain the effect it creates.
- Use Apostrophes to make your own writing more precise and vivid.
- Support a point about Apostrophes with a short, accurate quotation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Naming a technique without explaining its effect on the reader.
- Quoting a long passage instead of picking a short, precise phrase.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Apostrophes
What is Apostrophes?
An apostrophe shows that letters are missing in a contraction or that something belongs to someone.
What are the most important points about Apostrophes?
The main points are: Contraction: do not becomes don't; Possession: the dog's bone; Its means belonging to it while it's means it is.
Why is Apostrophes useful?
Understanding Apostrophes helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
How can I practise Apostrophes?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Apostrophes?
Related topics in English include Capital Letters, Homophones and Homonyms, Synonyms and Antonyms.