QTS Literacy Skills Test

Support for punctuation

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Apostrophes

They have two main roles

1.They show the omission of letters

2.They show possession

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Apostrophes 2

Wouldn’t - would not

Couldn’t - could not I’ll - I will He’ll - he will We’re - we are They’re - they are

The omission of letters

Extreme apostrophe ..

Hallowe’en - All Hallows’ Eve

Bo’s’n – boatswain

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Apostrophe of possession

The boy’s coat – one boy, his coat The cat’s tail – one cat, its own tail

To show possession

singular

plural

The boys’ coats – several boys, each with a coat

The cats’ tails – several cats, each with a tail

Apostrophe before the s

Apostrophe after the s

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All the pupils pupils were dilated

One of the pupils pupils was dilated

Both of the pupils pupils were dilated

Both of the pupils had dilated pupils

Apostrophes – test yourself

Place the apostrophes in these sentences

All the pupils’ pupils were dilated

One of the pupil’s pupils was dilated

Both of the pupils’ pupils were dilated

Both of the pupils had dilated pupils

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Replace the missing commas

There is an old German fable about porcupines who need to huddle together for warmth but are in danger of hurting each other with their spines. When they find the optimum distance to share each others warmth without putting each others eyes out their state of contrived cooperation is called good manners. Well, those old German fabulists certainly knew a thing or two. When you acknowledge other people politely, the signal goes out Im here. Youre there. Im staying here. Youre staying there. Arent we both glad we sorted that out When people dont acknowledge each other politely, the lesson from the porcupine fable is unmistakeable. Freeze or get stabbed, mate. Its your choice. Lynne Truss From Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door

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Speech marks- revision

im coming home late tonight she said and added dont expect me before 11

hurry up he shoutedshe asked am I late

Example 1

Example 2

"Hurry up!" he shouted.She asked, "Am I late?"

"I'm coming home late tonight," she said and added, "don't expect me before 11."