Apostrophes
A short captioned lesson on missing letters and belonging, for older children. Free, with a full transcript and teaching notes.
Read the whole lesson
The apostrophe The apostrophe is a tiny mark with two important jobs. It looks like a little hanging comma, and it can change the meaning of a sentence.
do not, don't Job one: showing missing letters. Do not becomes don't. The apostrophe takes the place of the missing o.
I'm it's we'll Here are more. I am becomes I'm. It is becomes it's. We will becomes we'll. In each one, the apostrophe stands where letters went missing.
the dog's bone Job two: showing that something belongs to someone. The dog's bone means the bone belongs to the dog. Add apostrophe s to the owner.
the girls' coats For two or more owners, add the apostrophe after the s. The girls' coats means the coats belong to several girls.
apples, not apple's A warning. Do not use an apostrophe for a plain plural. Apples is right. Apple's would mean something belongs to the apple. No apostrophe for plurals!
it's = it is One more tricky pair. It's with an apostrophe means it is. Its with no apostrophe means belonging. Test it: say it is. If that fits, use the apostrophe.
Two jobs Apostrophes take practice. Check each one you write: is it a missing letter or a belonging? Two jobs, that is all.
For grown-ups Teaching notes
- Apostrophes have two main jobs: to show missing letters (do not becomes don't) and to show possession (the dog's bone).
- Teach the two jobs separately. First contractions, then possession with singular nouns, then plurals.
- Common errors: apostrophe in simple plurals (apple's) and confusing its (belonging) with it's (it is).
- Quick test for its or it's: say it is. If it makes sense, use the apostrophe.
Tip: pause the video after each picture, ask the child to say the answer, then press play.