The Apostrophe: When and How to Use It (Grade 10 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes
The Apostrophe: When and How to Use It
The apostrophe (') is a small but important punctuation mark in English. Understanding when and how to use it correctly will help you avoid common mistakes in your writing. An apostrophe has two main purposes: showing that letters have been left out (contractions) and showing that something belongs to someone or something (possession).
Uses of the apostrophe
Showing contractions (shortened words)
A contraction is a shortened version of two words combined into one. When we create contractions, we leave out certain letters to make the words shorter and easier to say. The apostrophe takes the place of these missing letters.
The apostrophe shows exactly where letters have been removed when words are shortened. This is very common in informal speech and writing.
Examples of Contractions:
Here's how apostrophes replace missing letters:
- do not becomes don't (the apostrophe replaces the "o" in "not")
- I will becomes I'll (the apostrophe replaces "wi" from "will")
- it is becomes it's (the apostrophe replaces the "i" in "is")
Other common contractions:
- can't (cannot)
- won't (will not)
- she's (she is)
- we're (we are)
- they've (they have)
In each case, the apostrophe marks where letters have been dropped.
Exam tip: Contractions are generally considered informal, so avoid using them in formal essays or examination answers. Write out the full words instead.
Showing possession (belonging)
The second main use of the apostrophe is to show possession or ownership. This means the apostrophe tells us who or what something belongs to.
Possession with singular nouns
When you want to show that something belongs to one person or thing (a singular noun), you add 's to the end of the noun.
Examples of Singular Possession:
- Sam's book – This tells us the book belongs to Sam
- Mpho's commitment – The commitment belongs to Mpho
- The teacher's desk – The desk belongs to the teacher
The rule is straightforward: for any singular noun, add an apostrophe followed by the letter "s" ('s).
Possession with plural nouns
When you want to show that something belongs to more than one person or thing (a plural noun), the rule changes slightly depending on how the plural is formed.
For plural nouns that already end in 's': Add only an apostrophe (') after the final "s". Do not add another "s".
Examples of Plural Possession (words ending in 's'):
- The players' uniforms – The uniforms belong to the players (more than one player)
- The teachers' lounge – The lounge belongs to the teachers (more than one teacher)
- The students' books – The books belong to the students
For plural nouns that don't end in 's': Add 's just like you would for singular nouns.
Examples of Plural Possession (words not ending in 's'):
- The children's playground – The playground belongs to the children
- The men's team – The team belongs to the men
Common apostrophe errors and corrections
Even strong writers sometimes make mistakes with apostrophes. Here are the most common errors and how to fix them.
It's versus its: contractions versus possessive pronouns
This is one of the most frequently confused apostrophe rules. The difference is crucial to understand.
It's (with an apostrophe) is a contraction. It means either "it is" or "it has".
Its (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun. It shows that something belongs to or is connected to "it". Possessive pronouns (its, his, hers, yours, theirs) never take apostrophes.
Distinguishing Between It's and Its:
It's with apostrophe:
- It's raining = It is raining
- It's been a long day = It has been a long day
Its without apostrophe:
- The dog wagged its tail – The tail belongs to the dog
Memory tip: If you can replace the word with "it is" or "it has" and the sentence still makes sense, use it's with an apostrophe. If not, use its without an apostrophe.
Apostrophe placement in plural possession
Getting the apostrophe in the right position is important when showing possession with plural nouns.
Incorrect: A few second's eye contact ❌
Correct: A few seconds' eye contact ✓
Why? The word "seconds" is plural (more than one second), so it already ends in "s". The apostrophe comes after the "s" to show possession. We don't add another "s" after the apostrophe for plural words that already end in "s".
Avoiding misused apostrophes with possessive pronouns
A common mistake is adding an apostrophe to possessive pronouns. Remember: possessive pronouns never take apostrophes.
Incorrect: Shaking it's contents into my hands ❌
Correct: Shaking its contents into my hands ✓
Why? The word "its" is a possessive pronoun showing that the contents belong to "it" (perhaps a container). Because "its" is a pronoun, it does not take an apostrophe.
Other possessive pronouns to remember: his, hers, yours, ours, theirs – none of these ever need apostrophes.
Exam tip: When you're unsure whether to use "it's" or "its", try replacing it with "it is" or "it has". If the sentence doesn't make sense, you need "its" without an apostrophe.
Key Points to Remember:
- The apostrophe has two main uses: showing contractions (missing letters) and showing possession (belonging).
- For contractions, the apostrophe replaces the missing letters when two words are shortened (don't, I'll, it's = it is).
- For singular possession, add 's to the noun (Sam's book, the dog's tail).
- For plural possession with words ending in "s", add only the apostrophe ' after the "s" (the players' uniforms, the teachers' lounge).
- It's (with apostrophe) = it is or it has; its (without apostrophe) = belonging to it. Possessive pronouns never take apostrophes.