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Tag: Apostrophe
Apostrophe Used to Show Possession ✍️
An apostrophe ( ’ ) is used to show possession, meaning that something belongs to someone or something. This is one of the most important uses of the apostrophe in English. When we add an apostrophe, we show who owns or possesses something. 😊
🔹 1. Possession with Singular Nouns
For most singular nouns, we add ’s to show ownership.
The girl’s bag 🎒 (the bag belongs to the girl)
The teacher’s book 📘
The dog’s bone 🦴
The child’s toy 🧸
My brother’s bicycle 🚲
🔹 2. Possession with Plural Nouns Ending in -s
If the noun is plural and already ends with s, we add only an apostrophe ( ’ ) after the s.
The students’ classroom 🏫
The teachers’ meeting
The cars’ engines 🚗
🔹 3. Possession with Plural Nouns NOT Ending in -s
If the plural noun does not end in s, we add ’s.
The children’s playground 🛝
The men’s uniforms
The women’s handbags 👜
🔹 4. Possession with Names Ending in -s
For names ending in s, both forms are acceptable, but the most common is ’s.
James’s car
Chris’s laptop
The Joneses’ house (family name, plural)
🔹 5. Possession of Things
We can also show possession with things, places, or groups.
The country’s population 🌍
The school’s rules
The company’s offices
✨ Summary
Use an apostrophe to show ownership, but remember the correct form depends on whether the noun is singular, plural, or ends with s. Apostrophes make writing clearer and more meaningful. 📝😊
Use an apostrophe to show ownership, but remember the correct form depends on whether the noun is singular, plural, or ends with s. Apostrophes make writing clearer and more meaningful. 📝😊
✍️Apostrophe Used in Contractions
What is an apostrophe in contractions?
The apostrophe (’ or ‘) is used to form contractions — shortened forms of words created by leaving out letters. The apostrophe shows where the letters were removed. Contractions make speech and informal writing sound natural and friendly. They are common in conversation, emails, stories, and when we want a conversational tone 😊.
🔧 How contractions are formed
A contraction combines two words into one by removing letters and inserting an apostrophe where the missing letters belong. For example, do not → don’t (the o is removed and replaced by an apostrophe).
📘 Common contractions & examples
I am → I’m — I’m going to school now.
You are → you’re — You’re my best friend.
He is → he’s — He’s reading a book.
She will → she’ll — She’ll arrive soon.
It is / It has → it’s — It’s raining. / It’s been a long day.
They are → they’re — They’re playing outside.
Cannot → can’t — You can’t enter without a ticket 🎫.
Do not → don’t — I don’t like spinach.
Did not → didn’t — She didn’t finish her homework.
I have → I’ve — I’ve seen that movie already.
✅ Important common rules & warnings
It’s vs Its: It’s = it is / it has (contraction). Its (no apostrophe) = belonging to it. Example: It’s cold today. vs The dog wagged its tail.
You’re vs Your: You’re = you are. Your = belonging to you. Example: You’re late. vs Is this your pen?
Do not use apostrophes to make plurals of ordinary nouns (no ’s for plurals). Incorrect: apple’s for more than one apple. ✅ Correct: apples.
Formal writing caution: Contractions are fine in speech and informal writing, but use full forms (do not, cannot, it is) in formal essays and some exams ✍️.
🔎 More examples in sentences
- He’ll come later — short for He will.
- She’s finished her work — short for She has or She is (use context to decide).
- We’ve been waiting for an hour — short for We have.
- They’ve never seen the sea — short for They have.
- I’d love to help — contraction of I would or I had (context matters).