The apostrophe does two completely separate jobs: it signals that letters have been left out (contraction), and it signals ownership (possession). These two uses have different rules. Apostrophe errors are among the most common and most visible in all written English — and the most frequently judged. Understanding the two uses clearly, and knowing the most common mistakes, allows teachers to address apostrophe errors with confidence.
Before you start — think honestly about your own teaching and experience.
Look at the examples. Answer each question before reading the explanation — this is how your students will learn too.
Read these sentences. The apostrophe appears in different positions in different words. Can you work out what it is doing in each case?
Can't = cannot (apostrophe replaces 'no'). It's = it is (apostrophe replaces 'i'). The teacher's desk = the desk belonging to the teacher (apostrophe shows possession). The students' books = the books belonging to the students (plural possessive — apostrophe after the -s of the plural). I'd = I would (apostrophe replaces 'woul'). She's = she is (apostrophe replaces 'i'). So the apostrophe does exactly two things: (1) CONTRACTION: it replaces one or more missing letters. The apostrophe sits where the letters were removed. (2) POSSESSION: it signals ownership. The apostrophe + s (or just apostrophe for plurals) is attached to the owner. These two jobs are completely separate — knowing which job the apostrophe is doing in any given word is the key to getting it right.'
Now focus on possession. Read these sentences and think about the relationship between the apostrophe position and the number of owners.
SINGULAR POSSESSIVE (one owner): owner + 's → the student's book (one student), the teacher's marks (one teacher), the child's drawing (one child). The apostrophe comes BEFORE the s. PLURAL POSSESSIVE (more than one owner): Most English plurals end in -s. For regular plurals (students, teachers, parents), add only an apostrophe AFTER the s: the students' books, the teachers' marks, the parents' meeting. For IRREGULAR PLURALS that do NOT end in -s (children, men, women, people, mice), treat them like singulars — add 's: the children's drawings, the men's team, the women's organisation. The rule: (1) Form the plural first. (2) If the plural ends in -s, add only an apostrophe. (3) If the plural does NOT end in -s, add 's.'
Now look at the most common apostrophe confusion pairs. Can you work out the rule for each pair?
IT'S vs ITS: it's = it is or it has (contraction). Its = belonging to it (possessive). Crucially: its as a possessive NEVER has an apostrophe, because 'its' without an apostrophe already means 'belonging to it'. The possessive pronouns (his, her, its, our, their, whose, your) NEVER take apostrophes — they are already possessive. YOU'RE vs YOUR: you're = you are (contraction). Your = belonging to you (possessive). THEY'RE vs THEIR vs THERE: they're = they are. Their = belonging to them. There = a place or an introductory word. WHO'S vs WHOSE: who's = who is or who has. Whose = belonging to whom. In all these pairs, the apostrophe marks the contraction — the word with letters missing. The possessive form never has an apostrophe.'
| Tense / Form | Use / Meaning | Example | Key time words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contraction | Apostrophe replaces missing letters | can't (cannot), it's (it is), I'd (I would), they're (they are) | Apostrophe where letters were removed |
| Singular possession | One owner — apostrophe + s before anything else | the teacher's desk, the child's book, the school's results | owner + 's |
| Plural possession (regular) | Plural ends in -s — add only apostrophe after the s | the teachers' desks, the students' books, the parents' evening | owners + s + ' |
| Plural possession (irregular) | Plural does NOT end in -s — add 's as for singular | the children's drawings, the men's team, the women's group | irregular plural + 's |
| its vs. it's | its = possessive (no apostrophe). it's = it is / it has | The school has its own library. It's a good school. | Possessive pronouns NEVER take apostrophes |
| whose vs. who's | whose = possessive (no apostrophe). who's = who is / who has | Whose idea was it? Who's in charge? | Possessive pronouns NEVER take apostrophes |
THE MOST IMPORTANT APOSTROPHE RULE — never use an apostrophe for an ordinary plural:
The apostrophe is NOT used to form plurals. This is one of the most common and most widely criticised errors in English writing.
THE POSSESSIVE PRONOUN FAMILY — never take apostrophes:
his, her, its, our, their, whose, your
A QUICK TEST for its/it's and similar pairs:
If you can replace the word with 'it is' or 'it has' — use it's.
If you cannot — use its (no apostrophe).
Is the apostrophe replacing missing letters? → contraction — place apostrophe where the letters were. Is it showing ownership? → possessive. Is the owner singular? → add 's. Is the owner a regular plural (ends in -s)? → add only '. Is the owner an irregular plural (children, men, women)? → add 's. Is the word a possessive pronoun (its, your, their, whose)? → NO apostrophe ever. Is the apostrophe in a plain plural (student's meaning students)? → remove it — no apostrophe for ordinary plurals.
Choose the correct form — with or without an apostrophe, and in the correct position.
Each sentence contains an apostrophe error. Write the correct version and explain why — then reveal the answer.
Use this sequence directly in class — guided discovery, no textbook needed. Tap each step to mark it done.
STEP 1 — TWO JOBS (5 minutes): Write on the board: CONTRACTION (missing letters) and POSSESSION (ownership). Give students ten words with apostrophes. They classify each: is this a contraction or a possession?
can't → contraction. teacher's book → possession. it's → contraction (it is). children's → possession.
Establish: the apostrophe always does ONE of these two jobs. Knowing which job it is doing in each case is the key to getting it right.
STEP 2 — SINGULAR vs. PLURAL POSSESSION (8 minutes): Teach the three-step rule:
1. Form the plural. 2. Does it end in -s? → add only '. 3. Does NOT end in -s (irregular)? → add 's.
Drill with: student → students → students'. Child → children → children's. Teacher → teachers → teachers'. Woman → women → women's.
Ask students to produce the possessive of: parents, boys, men, headteacher, people. Check each one.
STEP 3 — ITS vs. IT'S (5 minutes): This is the most important pair to teach. Write the test on the board:
If you can replace it with 'it is' or 'it has' → it's. If you cannot → its.
Drill with eight sentences. Students substitute 'it is' or 'it has' to test. Build the habit of always applying the substitution test.
STEP 4 — THE APOSTROPHE IS NOT FOR PLURALS (5 minutes): Write five examples of incorrect apostrophe plurals ('the 1980's', 'student's studying maths', 'she ate apple's'). Students correct each one — removing the apostrophe. Establish firmly: ordinary plurals never take apostrophes. This is a rule with no exceptions for standard nouns.
STEP 5 — ERROR HUNT (5 minutes): Give students a short piece of writing with apostrophe errors — missing apostrophes in contractions, apostrophes in ordinary plurals, its/it's confusion, whose/who's confusion. Students correct every error and explain each one.
Use directly in class — copy, adapt, or read aloud. No printing needed.
For each strategy, choose the option that best describes where you are now.
Your feedback helps other teachers and helps us improve TeachAnyClass.