Apostrophes

Apostrophes show two things:

• That one thing belongs to another.

• That some letters of a word have been left out to shorten the word.

In this Presentation, we will explore the first use of apostrophes.

Showing Possession

When we are talking about one thing, we call this singular.For example, a man or a bike.

When we need to say that something belongs to something singular, we put an apostrophe and then an ‘s’ at the end of the name it belongs to.

e.g. the man’s bike.

Showing Possession

e.g. India’s national flag has three horizontal stripes on it.

Look Out For…

Never use an apostrophe if you have already used a possessive pronoun (his, her, its).

The only time that it’s has an apostrophe is when it is a contraction for ‘it is’ or ‘it has’.

e.g. Buckingham Palace’s gates are painted gold and black.

e.g. Dave had a rabbit and its fur was white.

Apostrophes of Possession

Apostrophes of Possession

Apostrophes of Possession

Apostrophes of Possession

Apostrophes of Possession

Apostrophes of Possession

Apostrophes of Possession

Can you write a sentence to describe each picture using an apostrophe to show possession? Click on the picture to see the answer.

This is Nadia’s radio.

Nadia Rachel Clara

This is Rachel’s car. This is Clara’s train.

This is Owen’s dog. This is Kaylee’s book. This is Malik’s rocket.

Owen Kaylee Malik

This is This is

This is This is This is

These children are talking about birthdays but there are no apostrophes in their sentences! Can you add them in? Click the bubbles to see the answer.

Can you write what you would say in this conversation, using an apostrophe to show possession?

My dads birthday is in

June.

Make space for the birthday boys cake!

It is my sisters birthday next

month.

It is Peters birthday today.

My brothers birthday is next week.

My dad’s birthday is in

June.

Make space for the birthday boy’s cake!

It is my sister’s birthday next

month.

It is Peter’s birthday today.

My brother’s birthday is next week.

Can you rewrite each sentence so that it includes an apostrophe to show possession? The first one has been done for you. Click the sentence to see if you were right.

Charlie is looking at the hoop that belongs to Isla.

Charlie is looking at Isla’s hoop.

I ate a big slice of the cake that belongs to Tim.

These are the parents that belong to Aleena.

Chloe got paint in the hair that belongs to Luna.

After playing all day, I had to lie down on the sofa that belongs to Derek.

I washed the car that belongs to my uncle.

Serena broke the necklace that belonged to her mum.

I ate a big slice of Tim’s cake.

These are Aleena’s parents.

Chloe got paint in Luna’s hair.

After playing all day, I had to lie down on Derek’s sofa.

I washed my uncle’s car.

Serena broke her mum’s necklace.

This family are very possessive of their food! Can you write labels for all the food in their fridge using apostrophes to show possession? One has been done for you.

Show answers

Misty Grandpa John

Colin Kaya

Alfie Karen

Can you write some labels for food in your fridge using apostrophes to show who they belong to in your family?

Misty’s fish

Colin’s eggs

GrandpaJohn’s soup

Alfie’s yoghurt

Karen’s milk

Kaya’s raisins

Look at the three different-coloured bus routes. Can you answer the questions about the different children’s houses? Make sure you use apostrophes to show possession in your answers.

1. Whose house does the yellow route visit?

2. Which two houses does the blue route visit?

3. Whose house does the red route not visit?

4. Where does the green route finish?

Can you make up your own route? Write down the houses you would visit in the order you would visit them. Don’t forget to use apostrophes to show possession.

Destiny’s house

Mariam’s house and Molly’s house

Liam’s house

Sam’s house

Show answers

Split into two teams. Take it in turns to choose which sentence uses an apostrophe for possession correctly. If a team choose correctly, they get a point. If they choose incorrectly, the other team gets a point.

Sallys favourite day of the week is Friday.

Sally’s favourite day of the week is Friday.

Which is correct?

Correct1 point to

your team!

Incorrect1 point to the other

team!

Split into two teams. Take it in turns to choose which sentence uses an apostrophe for possession correctly. If a team choose correctly, they get a point. If they choose incorrectly, the other team gets a point.

Do not sit on theteachers’ chair.

Do not sit on theteacher’s chair.

Which is correct?

Correct1 point to

your team!

Incorrect1 point to the other

team!

Split into two teams. Take it in turns to choose which sentence uses an apostrophe for possession correctly. If a team choose correctly, they get a point. If they choose incorrectly, the other team gets a point.

I often borrow my brothe’rs clothes.

I often borrow my brother’s clothes.

Which is correct?

Correct1 point to

your team!

Incorrect1 point to the other

team!

Split into two teams. Take it in turns to choose which sentence uses an apostrophe for possession correctly. If a team choose correctly, they get a point. If they choose incorrectly, the other team gets a point.

I watered my neighbours plants while she was away.

I watered my neighbour’s plants while she was away.

Which is correct?

Correct1 point to

your team!

Incorrect1 point to the other

team!

Split into two teams. Take it in turns to choose which sentence uses an apostrophe for possession correctly. If a team choose correctly, they get a point. If they choose incorrectly, the other team gets a point.

I played with Mom’oshamster.

I played with Momo’shamster.

Which is correct?

Correct1 point to

your team!

Incorrect1 point to the other

team!

Split into two teams. Take it in turns to choose which sentence uses an apostrophe for possession correctly. If a team choose correctly, they get a point. If they choose incorrectly, the other team gets a point.

Harry went to stay at his grandmas’ house in the

holidays.

Harry went to stay at his grandma’s house in the

holidays.

Which is correct?

Correct1 point to

your team!

Incorrect1 point to the other

team!

Split into two teams. Take it in turns to choose which sentence uses an apostrophe for possession correctly. If a team choose correctly, they get a point. If they choose incorrectly, the other team gets a point.

I love to stroke my cat Sa’sha fur.

I love to stroke my cat Sasha’s fur.

Which is correct?

Correct1 point to

your team!

Incorrect1 point to the other

team!