New
New
Year 2

Apostrophes for contraction and singular possession

I can show how an apostrophe works for contraction and for singular possession.

New
New
Year 2

Apostrophes for contraction and singular possession

I can show how an apostrophe works for contraction and for singular possession.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An apostrophe is an important piece of punctuation with more than one purpose.
  2. An apostrophe can contract two words together.
  3. An apostrophe can show if a noun belongs to another singular noun.
  4. Apostrophes for contraction and singular possession are useful in writing for different reasons.
  5. Apostrophes are most deeply understood when word class is understood.

Keywords

  • Apostrophe for contraction - a punctuation mark used to contract two words together

  • Apostrophe for possession (s) - a punctuation mark used to show if a noun belongs to another singular noun

  • Word class - different types of words that are used to form sentences

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to remember where to place the apostrophe when contacting some 'not' words.

All 'not' words lose the letter 'o' between 'n' and 't'. Check that pupils are not putting the apostrophe before the 'nt e.g. don't/do'nt.

For contraction, try saying each word whilst gesturing the word as if it is placed on each of your hands, then clap or push the words together. For possession, try using the grabbing gesture as you say the possessive phrase to show the possession.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the following sentence. A noun is a __________ word.
describing
doing
Correct answer: naming
Q2.
Identify the words that contain apostrophes.
Correct answer: child's
sun
Correct answer: isn't
mouse
Q3.
Match the word to the correct word class.
Correct Answer:book,noun

noun

Correct Answer:happily,adverb

adverb

Correct Answer:jumped,verb

verb

Correct Answer:shiny,adjective

adjective

Q4.
Which of these nouns are singular?
children
Correct answer: child
Correct answer: shoe
shoes
Q5.
The word ‘possession’ means…
to feel angry
to give something away
to get smaller
Correct answer: to own something
Q6.
Match the contracted form to the full form.
Correct Answer:I'm,I am

I am

Correct Answer:we're,we are

we are

Correct Answer:don't,do not

do not

Correct Answer:she's,she is

she is

6 Questions

Q1.
Select the singular nouns.
mice
Correct answer: dress
Correct answer: spoon
eggs
Q2.
Which piece of punctuation is found in the word don’t?
comma
full stop
Correct answer: apostrophe
question mark
Q3.
Match the two different purposes of an apostrophe to their function.
Correct Answer:apostrophe for possession,used to show if a noun belongs to another singular noun

used to show if a noun belongs to another singular noun

Correct Answer:apostrophe for contraction,used to contract two words together

used to contract two words together

Q4.
Which sentence below uses an apostrophe for contraction correctly?
Were’ going camping next weekend.
Correct answer: We’re going camping next weekend.
W’ere going camping next weekend.
We,re going camping next weekend.
Q5.
Identify the example where the apostrophe for possession is in the right place.
the childs tennis racket
the chil’ds tennis racket
the childs’ tennis racket
Correct answer: the child’s tennis racket
Q6.
Match the type of apostrophe to the sentence it appears in.
Correct Answer:apostrophe for possession,Jack’s golden bean grew into a beanstalk.

Jack’s golden bean grew into a beanstalk.

Correct Answer:apostrophe for contraction,Jack couldn’t believe his eyes.

Jack couldn’t believe his eyes.