Punctuation · Apostrophes
An apostrophe does only two jobs
An apostrophe (') is used for just two things: to squash two words together (a contraction, like do not → don't) and to show belonging (possession, like the dog's bone). In Stage 1 you choose the correctly punctuated word or sentence. Learn the two jobs — and the famous its/it's trap — below.
Job 1 Contractions — the apostrophe replaces missing letters
When two words are squashed into one, the apostrophe goes exactly where the letters are removed.
do not → don't · cannot → can't · I am → I'm · they are → they're · will not → won't ✓
Test: stretch the word back out. If "do not" fits, the apostrophe replaces the missing 'o': do not → don't.
Job 2 Singular possession — add 's
To show that one person or thing owns something, add 's.
the dog's bone (one dog) · Sara's bag · the teacher's desk · a child's toy ✓
This works even if the singular word already ends in s: James's book (or 'James'' — but 's is safest at KS2).
Job 3 Plural possession — add just an apostrophe
When a plural already ends in s, the apostrophe goes after the s (no extra s).
the dogs' bones (more than one dog) · the girls' team · the teachers' room ✓
Irregular plurals that DON'T end in s add 's like singulars: the children's toys, the men's coats, the people's choice.
Singular vs plural dog's vs dogs'
The apostrophe's position tells you how many owners there are.
the dog's bone = one dog's bone · the dogs' bones = bones of many dogs ✓
Method: first work out the owner (dog or dogs?), then add the apostrophe. Owner ends in s already → apostrophe after it.
Big trap its / it's and plurals are NOT possessive
it's = it is / it has (contraction). its = belonging to it (no apostrophe). And an apostrophe is never used just to make a plural.
✓ It's raining and the cat licked its paw.
✗ I bought three apple's. → ✓ three apples (plural, no apostrophe)
The 30-second method
How to crack any apostrophe MCQ fast
- Contraction? Stretch it back out (don't → do not). The apostrophe sits where letters vanished.
- Possession? Work out the OWNER first, then add the apostrophe.
- One owner → 's. Several owners ending in s → just '. Irregular plural (children) → 's.
- its vs it's: try "it is". If it fits, use it's; if not, use its (no apostrophe).
- Plain plural? No apostrophe at all — that's the commonest trap.
10 worked examples
Read the question, then the answer with the rule that solves it.
1. Contract do not.
don't — the apostrophe replaces the missing 'o' (Job 1).
2. Contract I will.
I'll — the apostrophe replaces "wi" (Job 1).
3. The bone belonging to one dog.
the dog's bone — one owner, add 's (Job 2).
4. The bones belonging to several dogs.
the dogs' bones — plural ending in s, apostrophe after the s (Job 3).
5. Toys belonging to the children.
the children's toys — irregular plural, add 's (Job 3).
6. It is cold today.
It's cold today. — contraction of "it is" (trap).
7. The dog wagged ___ tail.
its tail — belonging to it, no apostrophe (trap).
8. I have three ___ (apple).
three apples — plain plural, NO apostrophe (trap).
9. The bag belonging to Sara.
Sara's bag — one owner, add 's (Job 2).
10. The staff room for the teachers.
the teachers' room — plural ending in s, apostrophe after (Job 3).