a punctuation mark used to contract two words together

a punctuation mark used to show if a noun belongs to another singular or plural noun

Apostrophes: for contraction, singular possession and plural possession 2

English

In this unit, pupils learn how to use the colon and the semi-colon.

In 'Speech punctuation, parenthesis and apostrophes', pupils learnt to punctuate a speech interrupted sentence. In this unit, pupils will learn how to use the colon and the semi-colon. 

Punctuation 

Which sentence below uses both **apostrophes for contraction** correctly?

Which words in this sentence could be contracted using an apostrophe? 'We should have waited, but he had told us to go.'

At the allotment, we picked Dad's vegetables. 

Match each 'possession' idea to the sentence that uses it. Each sentence uses an **apostrophe for singular possession**.

We sighed as we listened to the adult's opinions. 

We sighed as we listened to the adults opinions. 

We sighed as we listened to the adults' opinions. 

Which sentence correctly uses the **apostrophe for plural possession** for the idea 'the opinions belonging to the adults'?

The children's suggestions were quite helpful. 

The childrens' suggestions were quite helpful. 

Tick the sentences that use an **apostrophe for plural possession** correctly.

Which of the following could end this sentence? 'Stop talking...'

Which of the following sentences are correctly punctuated? 

What is the name for the punctuation used to show direct speech?

Where on earth would we find the answer to our question.

Where on earth would we find the answer to our question!

Where on earth would we find the answer to our question?

Before long we saw the sun peep over the horizon. 

Before long we saw the sun, peep over the horizon. 

Before long, we saw the sun peep over the horizon. 

Before long we saw, the sun peep over the horizon. 

Which sentence has the comma in the correct position? 

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Apostrophes: for contraction, singular possession and plural possession 2

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.