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

Using apostrophes for contraction, singular possession and plural possession

English

In this unit, pupils learn to punctuate a third type of speech sentence: the speech interrupted sentence. 

In 'Apostrophes and speech punctuation', pupils developed their accuracy of using inverted commas in both speech first and speech second sentences. In this unit, pupils will learn to punctuate a third type of speech sentence: the speech interrupted sentence.  

Speech punctuation, parenthesis and apostrophes 

Which of the following can an apostrophe be used to show?

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

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

Because I like Jun's personality, we're good friends.

We all dislike Alex's neighbour because he is rude to us.

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

The ships' tired passenger's got off at the port. 

The ships' tired passengers got off at the port. 

The ship's tired passengers got off at the port.

Which sentence correctly uses the **apostrophe for plural possession** for the idea 'the tired passengers belonging to the ships'?

The childrens' appalling behaviour shocked Mrs Begum. 

The children's appalling behaviour shocked Mrs Begum.

The people's huge sacrifices made all the difference.

The persons' huge sacrifices made all the difference.

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

Which of these pieces of punctuation can be used to add parenthesis to a sentence?

The eagle swooped - fast as lightning - towards its innocent prey.

The eagle - swooped fast as lightning - towards its innocent prey.

The eagle swooped fast - as lightning - towards its innocent prey.

Which of these sentences uses dashes correctly to add parenthesis?

Which words in this sentence could be placed between dashes to show parenthesis? 'A siren loud as thunder woke us in an instant.'

the cave echoed with the sound of our whispers

Which words in this sentence could be placed between dashes to show parenthesis? 'The cave dark and vast and empty echoed with the sound of our whispers.'

The child - in jeans and a t-shirt - sat down and cried.

The child - alone and abandoned in the empty playground - sat down and cried.

Which of these sentences creates the most intense effect of sadness for the reader?

Which of these pieces of parenthesis could be added to this sentence to create an effect of fear? 'The forest surrounded them on all sides.'

Starter Quiz