1. Apostrophes How and when do we use them?

2. When do we use them? 1.To show possession (that something belongs to someone/something) 2.To show omission (that letters have been missed out) – this is also called “contraction”

3. 1. To show possession (that something belongs to someone/something) If you were stranded on a desert island, what five things would you want to have with you? Write down five items now.

4. I chose… magazine s chocolate tent torch hairbrush Miss. Jones’s magazines Miss. Jones’s chocolate Miss. Jones’s tent Adam’s torch My cousin’s hairbrush

5. What about plural nouns? The girl’s hat The girls’ hats The student’s behaviour The students’ behaviour ONE GIRL MORE THAN ONE GIRL ONE STUDENT MORE THAN ONE STUDENT

6. Note: some plural nouns DON’T end in s. children womenmen For these, we just add a normal apostrophe and s… The children’s coats The men’s overalls The women’s voices The people’s choice

7. We do NOT use apostrophes for POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS! My jumper is right here, where’s yours? Their car is nice but ours is better. The cat ate its dinner very quickly. I can’t find my keys but hers are on the table. Is this book yours or theirs? The door is hanging off its hinges. Note: it’s = it is its = showing possession using 3 rd person pronoun it

8. So, we have learned the FIRST function of the apostrophe. 1.To show possession (that something belongs to someone/something )

9. 2. To show omission (that letters have been missed out) – this is also called “contraction” Mark did not come out with us last night. BECOMES Mark didn’t come out with us last night. The two words did and not have been contracted and an apostrophe marks omission of the o. What has happened?