Lesson video

Hello everyone.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

In today's lesson, we're going to be learning about a new piece of punctuation.

So you might already know about full stops or question marks, but today, we're going to learn a brand new piece of punctuation that's going to be really helpful in your writing.

Let's get started, shall we? The outcome of today's lesson is to contract two words with an apostrophe.

Here are our key words that we'll be using in today's lesson.

Now I'm going to say each one, and I'd like you to repeat it back to me.

Are you ready? Here we go.

Apostrophe for contraction, contract, contraction, ascender.

Well done.

So lots of those words sounding quite similar.

Contraction, contract.

Don't worry if you're not sure what that means because we're going to talk about that a lot in our lesson today.

And by the end of the lesson, you're going to feel really comfortable with what each of these words mean.

So let's get started and look at our lesson cycles for today.

So first of all, we're gonna be asking, what is an apostrophe? Do you recognise these? Are you ready? Hmm, there's one, there's another and there is another.

Do you recognise these? Have some thinking time.

What do you think they are, what do they represent? What do they stand for? Why do we use them? Have some thinking time.

Well done.

So these are all punctuation marks.

We use them to punctuate the sentences we write and they all have a different purpose.

We use an exclamation mark to show extreme emotion or excitement or for example, if you're in your writing, you said something like, Sam! 'Cause that's the noise the door went, you might have an exclamation mark after it to show that it was loud.

Or you might say something like, Look at the snow! Exclamation mark.

A full stop is used to show the end of a sentence and a question mark shows that it is a question that is being asked and all of them come at the end of a sentence.

So an apostrophe is another punctuation mark.

It appears high up in the word, next to the tallest letter.

So it's a little bit different to the other punctuation marks we've just looked at, which always comes at the end of a sentence.

Here it is, here is an apostrophe.

Does it remind you of something else? Have a think.

Perhaps, if you think it reminds you of something, you could shout out what it reminds you of.

Oh, I heard some of you saying a comma.

You're right.

Apostrophes and commas look the same.

But there's one big difference, they appear in different places.

They also have two different purposes.

So can you point to the apostrophe? Show me your fingers.

Can you point to the apostrophe? Which one is it? You've got four options.

Which one is the apostrophe? Well done, it's this one.

It's like a comma that has floated up into the sky.

Imagine you got a comma and you attached a helium balloon to it and it floated up, and then you would have an apostrophe.

Or, here we go again, show me your fingers.

Can you point at the apostrophe? Which one is it? Oh, I can see some children pointing.

Well done, it's this one.

This one is the apostrophe.

So let's go on an apostrophe hunt.

Are you ready? Perhaps you could get your magnifying glasses ready to do some apostrophe hunting.

Here are my sentences.

You're looking very tired today.

Did you see an apostrophe? Oh, there it is, it's in between you and er, you're and it is, can you see how it's like a comma, but it's floated up? My dog isn't feeling his best.

My dog isn't feeling his best.

Have some time, can you spot the apostrophe? Can you spot it? Tell me if you can see it.

Well done, there it is, look in the word isn't.

Okay, here's our next one.

Don't forget your bag.

Can you spot the apostrophe? There's an exclamation mark at the end of the sentence, but that's not the right piece of punctuation we're looking for in our hunt.

We're on an apostrophe hunt.

Where's the apostrophe? Tell me if you can see it.

Well done, there it is, in don't.

And finally, we can't go outside in this torrential rain.

Torrential rain is really heavy rain.

Where is the apostrophe? Remember, it looks like a comma, but it goes higher up than a comma.

Can you see it? Show me your fingers pointing.

Well done, there it is, in can't.

Okay, well done.

So what did you notice about the position of apostrophes in these words? I've already spoken a little bit about the position, but could we be really precise if we were going to describe to an alien where an apostrophe goes and an alien's never written one before, how would you describe exactly where it goes? Can you maybe pause the video and try to explain where you think an apostrophe should go? Pause the video now.

Well done.

Now you might have said it goes high up, but we've got to remember it can't go so high up that it goes way above the letters.

It's got to go next to the tallest part of the letters.

And that's the part that we called an ascender.

So apostrophes are placed high up next to the ascender of a letter.

And ascender was one of our keywords.

The stain on the carpet won't come out.

Can you see where the apostrophe is? It's there, look.

And it's by the top of the letter t.

It's not by the top of the letter n, because an n isn't ascender letter, it's not one of those letters that is tall like a t.

So the apostrophe and the word is at the same height as the top of the letter t in this example.

Here's my letter t closeup, I've zoomed in on it.

So my apostrophe goes here.

It's at the top of the t.

Look at the following examples of apostrophes within a word.

Are you ready? I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm.

They all say I'm, I'm feeling happy.

But which apostrophe is in the correct position? You can see that in the first one it's low down.

On the second one, it's above the letter I.

In the third one, it's at the top of the letter I and in the last one it's in the middle of the letter I, I is the ascender, it's the letter which is tall.

So, Hmm, which one do you think is correct? Maybe have some thinking time.

Which one do you think is correct? Maybe you could point at it.

Well done, it is this one that is correct.

In the first one, it's far too low down.

It looks almost like a comma there because it's in the wrong position.

In the second one, they've got the right idea.

It's high up, but actually it's too high.

It's floated above the letters.

And our apostrophe shouldn't float above the letters.

But in the third one, it's at the top of the ascender letter, which is an I.

So that's the correct one.

Well done if you put, if you spotted that.

Okay, let's check your understanding.

Can you circle, you might wanna do a circle in the air.

The word that shows the apostrophe in the right place.

This is the word, it's.

It's raining outside, but which apostrophe is in the right place? Pause the video now.

Well done, it is this one.

We can see that the apostrophe is at the top of the letter t.

A t is a tall letter, it's an ascender.

And that is where the apostrophe is.

Well done, if you spotted that.

So for your task, I'd like you to find and circle the apostrophe in the following sentences.

Have a look at the sentences.

Here they are, I'll read them to you.

I'm sure you will enjoy the book when you start reading it.

I don't how to ride a bicycle.

We can't go outside because it's raining.

Let's go and play in the snow! We've got an adorable, new puppy and he's very naughty.

So in some of these sentences you might have already spotted, there might be more than one apostrophe.

There might be two in each sentence or there might be one.

So you need to look for the apostrophes.

Get your magnifying glasses ready for your apostrophe hunt.

And when you find them, you need to circle them.

And as you circle them, try and think about the position of where they are so that when you come to write your own apostrophe, you will know exactly where to put it.

Pause the video now, good luck.

Okay, well done.

Let's go through the answers, shall we? So in the first sentence, I'm sure you'll enjoy the book when you start reading it, the apostrophe is in the word I'm, and it's at the top of the ascender, which is I.

In the second sentence, I don't how to ride a bicycle, the apostrophe is in the word don't.

And can you see it comes at the top of the t? We can't go outside because it's raining, the apostrophes are in the word can't and it's.

Let's go and play in the snow, the apostrophes in the word let's.

We've got an adorable new puppy and he's very naughty, the apostrophes are in the word we've and he's, now, you'll notice here in this example that the letters in we've, and he's aren't ascenders.

The ones that, the letters that the apostrophe comes in between, they're just normal letters.

They're not tall letters.

So the apostrophe has come just above them, just above the e, can you see that? Just above the v, and in he's, again, it's become, it's come just above the e and just above the s, because that isn't an ascender.

In the example where we can see a t, for example, in the one above, can't and it's, we can see it's at the top of the letter t, in line with the top of the letter because a t is an ascender.

Okay, so we've thought about what the fact that an apostrophe is a piece of punctuation.

And we've looked at where it comes in a word.

But now we're going to think about why we use them.

And in today's lesson we're learning that we're using apostrophe for contraction, which is one of our key words which we're going to find out more about now.

So different punctuation marks have different purposes.

An apostrophe is a really important piece of punctuation.

And one of its main purposes is for contraction.

Let's just practise saying that word again.

My turn, your turn.

Contraction.

Well done, it's one of our key words.

It's very important.

The word contract, which is also a key word, means push together.

So can you do this with me? Contract, your turn.

Well done.

Contract, it means push together.

And sometimes, we use this symbol 'cause we clap to contract because it's like we're pushing two things together.

Sometimes I like to imagine that I've got two words, and I've pushed them together or I've clapped them together and the apostrophe has floated up out of it, almost like I squeezed them together and I've squeezed an apostrophe which has flung up the top outta the two words.

So in English, particularly when we're speaking or writing informally, we use apostrophes for contraction to show two words connected together.

And just a little bit more about the word informally.

So if we are formal, we are using our best manners and we're trying to sound quite sensible and serious, perhaps when we're talking.

If you were the prime minister giving a speech, you would try to use very formal language.

If we are informal, if we add the prefix in before the word formal, informal, it's the opposite of that.

It's a bit more relaxed.

Like if you were chatting to a friend in the playground, you would probably be using informal language.

You wouldn't need to sound like the prime minister.

You wouldn't need to be using your very best manners.

So if you were imagining a formal clothes, that might be what you wore to a special occasion.

Perhaps it might be a smart suit or a dress, or you might wear a very smart hat, or something like that.

Whereas, if you were going to wear informal clothes, you might just be wearing some jeans and some flip flops and a T-shirt.

So informal, picture the jeans and the T-shirt, and you're chatting with your friends in the playground.

And that's when we use contractions because contractions actually is when we we're being a little bit lazy.

It's when we can't almost be bothered to say both words.

So we just squish them together and say one word instead.

So for example, I am becomes I'm, so if I'm the prime minister, I would say "I am very excited for this event." But if I was chatting with my friends in the playground, I might say, "I'm so excited for the party." Formal, I am, informal, I'm.

Again, can you see how it's a bit lazy? I am, I am is two separate words.

I'm is only one word, it's easier to say.

Do not becomes, don't.

Who is, becomes who's.

So let's put each in a in a sentence for more context.

I am feeling happy.

I'm feeling happy.

Do not jump in the puddle.

Don't jump in the puddle.

Who is coming to the party? Who's coming to the party? And can you see, we've got the symbol there for clap.

Remember it's like we're pushing the two words together.

So let's look at that example, who is, can you see? It's like I've got my who and my is, I've squeezed them together or I've clapped them together and the apostrophe has floated up into the sky or not into the sky, it's floated up just above those letters there because there's not an ascender.

So it's gone just above the o and the s.

So let's check what we've just learned.

We often use contractions in formal speaking and writing.

Remember formal is when we're using our best manners.

Is that true or false? Pause the video now.

Well done, this is false.

We don't use contractions in formal speaking and writing.

We use them in informal speaking and writing.

So when we use an apostrophe for contraction, we push two words together to make one shorter word.

Let's look at some examples.

I plus am, there's my two words, equals I'm.

Hmm, start noticing what's happened that might help you.

He plus is equals he's.

It plus is, it is becomes it's.

What do you notice has happened here in each of these examples? Pause the video and see if you can notice and perhaps tell someone or just say out loud, what do you notice has happened here? Can you spot a pattern? Okay, well done.

You might have noticed that when we've pushed these two words together, we have taken away a letter and we've replaced it with the apostrophe.

So an apostrophe usually takes the place of the letters that have been removed from the start of the second word.

So let's have a look.

We are, there's my two words, the second word is are.

So we're going to take away the first letter from the second word, which is an a, and we're going to put an apostrophe where we've taken away that letter.

So we're taking away a letter and putting an apostrophe to replace it.

Let's have a look at another one.

You are, what's my second word? That's right, it's are.

What's the first letter of my second word? That's right, it's an a.

So we're going to take away the a and we're going to write out you, and then where the a is, we're going to write an apostrophe and then do the second, the last part of my second word, which is an re, you're.

You are looking tired.

You're looking tired.

They plus are, they are making a mess.

What's the second word? Are.

What's the first letter in my second word? A.

Let's take away the a, and then let's write they apostrophe re, they're.

They're making a mess.

True or false? The word contract means push together.

Is it true or false? Pause the video now.

Well done.

It mean it is true.

The word contract does mean to push together.

All contractions using not, put the apostrophe between the n and the t.

This is something we need to remember because in the examples we just looked at, we said that we usually take away the first letter from the first word, which in the word not, could not, would mean we'd take away the n because it's the first letter in the second word.

But this is an exception.

Whenever we use the word not, we put the apostrophe between the n and the t.

For example, do not becomes don't.

Can you see how we've taken away the letter between the n and the t? And that's where we've replaced the apostrophe, replaced it with the apostrophe.

Some contractions remove two letters.

For example, can not, I can not do it becomes can't do it, I can't do it.

You can see there that we've taken away the n and the o from not.

Some contractions also add in a letter, will not, will not.

In this example, we're going to take away, this is strange.

Look, we're taking away some letters from the first word and we're taking away the o from not, and we're replacing, we're putting on apostrophe where we've taken away that o.

Will not, I will not do it, I won't do it.

Let's check what we've just learned.

Which is the correct contraction for do not? We've got lots of different variations there with apostrophes in different positions.

Which one do you think is in the correct position? Remember, when we use an apostrophe, we usually put it where we replace with letters that we have taken away.

So that might give you a little help.

Pause the video now.

Okay, well done.

So in the words, do not, we've taken away the the o in the word not.

So that is where our apostrophe should come.

It should come between the n and the t.

So you can see that this is the correct answer.

B and C also have an apostrophe between the n and the t, but in B, it's floated up too high.

The helium balloons floated up too high above the letters.

And in C, it's not floated up at all, so it looks like a comma.

In d, it's in the right position, it's at the top of the ascender, the tall letter, which is a t.

Right, look at these sentences.

Are you ready? I have circled some words that we can contract to make the sentence less formal, a bit more relaxed.

I am going camping when the holidays begin.

I am are the two words that we can push together and contract to make them a bit more informal, a bit more relaxed.

So if I contract these, I'm going to get the word I'm.

I've taken away the first letter of the second word, which is am, and I've replaced it with an apostrophe and it's got gone at the top of the letter I because that's my ascender.

Let's look at another one.

I would like to play, but she will not let me join in.

She will not, will not are the two words I can contract.

Have some thinking time last time I just showed you, but this time perhaps you can have some thinking time.

How could we contract will not? Think about saying it.

She will not let me join in.

How else could we say that she, Hmm, let me join in.

Well done.

She won't let me join in.

And this is one of those special contractions where we've actually taken away more than one letter.

It is a glorious day outside.

That's what the prime minister might say.

But if you are chatting to your friends, you could say, instead of it is, you could say Hmm, a glorious day outside.

How could we push those two words together to say one word instead? Perhaps you could tell me.

Well done.

It's a glorious day outside.

And again, here, we've followed the pattern.

We've taken away the first letter of the second word and replaced it with an apostrophe.

And it's gone at the top of the t, which is the ascender.

So now it's time for you to do your final task of today's lesson.

I would like you to look at this table.

You're going to clap to contract the words.

Remember to put the apostrophe for contraction in the right place.

Remember, it comes at the top of the ascender.

Remember that action that we can use, we clap to contract because we're pushing two words to together.

Or sometimes there's an exception where it's just one word that we're making shorter.

So here's an example.

Cannot, so there's my one word that I'm going to make shorter, that's going to become can't.

I have taken away the n and the o and I've replaced it with an apostrophe and I've put my apostrophe at the top of the t.

So the examples you are gonna do are she is, we are, is not and they are.

If you're struggling to think about what the contraction is going to be, perhaps try and say, put it in a sentence.

For example, she is being kind.

Then imagine you were just going to say that to your friends, what would you say instead? She is being kind, Hmm being kind.

How could we say it in a quicker way? We are having fun, Hmm, having fun.

It is not fair, it, Hmm fair.

They are over there, Hmm, over there.

That might help you to think about what the contraction is going to sound like.

And then once you've got that, you can start to think about which letters are you going to take away and then you're going to replace it with the apostrophe, with the letter or the letters that you have taken away.

And then you need to think where is the apostrophe going to come at the bottom, in the middle, at the top or above the letters? So lots of things to think about, but I think you're going to do really well.

Good luck.

Pause the video now.

Okay, well done.

Let's go through the answers.

So we have got cannot, we've already looked at that one is can't, I cannot do it, I can't do it.

She is being kind becomes she's being kind.

We've taken away the first letter from the second word, which is an i, and we've replaced it with an apostrophe.

You can see my apostrophe's gone just above the e and the s because they aren't ascenders, but if you look at the letter h, which is an ascender, you can see it's in line with the top of the h.

We are having fun, we're having fun.

We've taken away the first letter of the second word, which is an a and we've replaced it with an apostrophe.

Is not, it is not fair, it isn't fair.

Can you remember when we've got the word not, we usually take away the o in between the n and t.

They are over there, they're over there.

We've taken away the first letter of the second word, which is a in are, and we've replaced it with an apostrophe.

So well done for all your hard work, let's go through what we've learned today.

We've learned that an apostrophe is an important piece of punctuation.

An apostrophe is placed at the same height as the ascender, which is a tall letter.

So it's like a comma that has floated up.

An apostrophe can contract or push two words together.

Sometimes we clap because we have pushed two words together.

An apostrophe for contraction usually takes the place of the letters that have been removed at the start of the second word.

Using apostrophes for contraction can make our speech or writing more informal, a bit more relaxed like if we were talking to our friends.

So we've learned an awful lot about apostrophes today.

I hope that you can use these apostrophes in your writing, but also perhaps this week when you are reading your book, you could see if you can be an apostrophe hunter and you can hunt for some apostrophes in your reading.

Because I bet you, now you've learnt what they are, you're going to notice them all the time.

And when you notice them, you can then think, Hmm, that's interesting.

They've used an apostrophe here.

The writers use an apostrophe.

And then you can think about if that means it's formal, which is what the prime minister might use, or informal, which is how you chat to your friends.

So lots of things that you can be thinking about this week.

You've learned a lot today and you should feel very proud of yourselves.

Hopefully, I'll see you for some more learning again soon.

Bye!.