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Academy11+

Punctuation guide

Apostrophes for belonging

An apostrophe can show that something belongs to someone. Where it goes depends on whether the owner is one person or more than one.

The rules

When it's taught at school: Singular in Year 2; plural in Year 4.

  1. 1

    One owner: add 's

    • Sam's bag
    • the dog's lead
    • the school's playground
    • James's coat
  2. 2

    More than one owner, ending in s: add just '

    • the girls' coats (more than one girl)
    • my parents' car
  3. 3

    Plurals that don't end in s: add 's

    • the children's books
    • the women's team
    • people's ideas
  4. 4

    Plain plurals never have an apostrophe

    If nothing belongs to anything, it's just a plural.

    • Apples for sale
    • The cats were asleep.

Common mistakes

  • Leos bike was in the garden.

    Leo's bike was in the garden.

    The bike belongs to Leo, so it needs an apostrophe before the s.

  • The childrens' coats were wet.

    The children's coats were wet.

    children is already plural, so the apostrophe goes before the s.

  • Banana's 50p each.

    Bananas 50p each.

    bananas just means more than one banana: no apostrophe.

Spot the mistake, 11+ style

Real examples of the questions in our papers. Cover the answer and see if your child can find the mistake.

  • Amaras birthday / is in February, / so we always / have a party.

    Show the answer

    Part A should be Amara's birthday. Possession is shown with an apostrophe before the s: Amara's.

  • Sams brother / doesn't like / spiders or / snakes.

    Show the answer

    Part A should be Sam's brother. Possession is shown with an apostrophe before the s: Sam's.

  • The childrens' / paintings were / displayed in / the hall.

    Show the answer

    Part A should be The children's. children is already plural, so the apostrophe goes before the s: children's.

  • The mens' / changing room / is next / to the pool.

    Show the answer

    Part A should be The men's. men is already plural, so the apostrophe goes before the s: men's.

  • The builder's / built a / new school / near our house.

    Show the answer

    Part A should be The builders. builders just means more than one, so it does not need an apostrophe.

  • The wasp's were / a real nuisance / at our / picnic.

    Show the answer

    Part A should be The wasps were. wasps just means more than one, so it does not need an apostrophe.

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Practise a little every day

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