1. Apostrophes
1) The difference between plural -s and possessive -‘s 2) Marking Plural Possession 3) Apostrophes for Contraction

2. Apostrophe Apostrophe
How nice to be
an apostrophe
floating
above an s
hovering
like a paper kite
in between the it’s
eavesdropping tiptoeing high above the that’s an inky comet spiralling the highest tossed of hats.
by Roger McGough

3. Apostrophes for Contractions
it’s
Apostrophes for Contractions
that’s
can’t
hasn’t
I’ll
don’t
I’m

4. Contractions Contractions show the way that we actually speak.
We tend to speak quite quickly, with our words shortened.
Sometimes we miss out sounds completely.
but we are more likely to say:
We might write:
I think that is a good poem because it is not too sentimental.
I think that’s a good poem because it isn’t too soppy! a
How are the contractions shown?

5. Apostrophes are used to show contractions
Contractions are formed when letters are missed out.
I am
I’m
cannot
can’t
do not
don’t
is not
it’s
What contractions can be made from these?

6. Apostrophes are used to show contractions
Contractions are formed when letters are missed out.
I am
I’m
cannot
can’t
do not
don’t
is not
isn’t
Can you spot which letters have been removed?

7. Apostrophes are used to show contractions
Contractions are formed when letters are missed out.
I am
I’m
cannot
can’t
do not
don’t
is not
isn’t
Can you spot which letters have been removed?

8. Apostrophes are used to show contractions
Contractions are formed when letters are missed out.
I am
I’m a
cannot
can’t
n and o
do not
don’t o
is not
isn’t
The apostrophe stands in the place of the missing letters.
Can you spot which letters have been removed?

9. Match the contractions to the words with the same meaning.
ANSWERS
Contractions
it is not
I’m
Match the contractions to the words with the same meaning.
can’t
I am
don’t
cannot
won’t
did not
didn’t
would not
isn’t
do not

10. Contractions it is not I’m I am can’t cannot don’t did not won’t
ANSWERS
Contractions
it is not
I’m
can’t
I am
don’t
cannot
won’t
did not
didn’t
would not
isn’t
do not

11. Apostrophes The difference between
plural -s where there is more than one
possessive -’s where something belongs to someone.

12. Plural -s A noun is a naming word (like ‘cat’)
It names a person, place, idea, thing or feeling.
Ella
school
cat
fear
There are two Ellas in our class.
All schools were in the competition.
The cats ran rings around their owner.
My fears are all to do with spiders!
If there is more than one of the noun we say it is plural.
We show a noun is plural by adding an s.

13. Possessive -’s To show possession we add ’s to the end of the noun.
Ella
school
cat
spider
Ella’s bag has been lost.
The school’s football rules are unfair!
The cat’s slippers are blue.
The spider’s fangs were huge.
The cat owns a green scarf.
Possession means that something is owned by the noun.
It is the cat’s green scarf.
The ’s goes at the end of the noun.

14. Plural -s and possessive -’s
Two chickens argued about the corn.
Two chicken’s argued about the corn. 
Plural
- add s
The cats dinner was just coming.
The cat’s dinner was just coming. 
Possessive
- add ’s
Which sentence is correct?

15. Possessive -s To show possession we add ’s to the end of the noun.
girl
farmer
teacher
cat
the girl’s room
the farmer’s field
the teacher’s desk
the cat’s bow
The ’s goes at the end of the noun.
But what happens if the noun already ends in s?

16. Possessive -s
When the noun ends in s, we still show possession by adding ’s
bus
dress
class
the bus’s door
the dress’s colour
the class’s teacher
… the door of the bus
… the colour of the dress
… the teacher of the class
NB we still add ‘s just the same!

17. End