The Apostrophe: When and How to Use It (Grade 11 NSC Matric English HL): Revision Notes
The Apostrophe: When and How to Use It
The apostrophe (') is a small but important punctuation mark in English. It serves two main purposes: showing that letters have been left out of a word (contraction) and indicating that something belongs to someone or something (possession). Understanding when and how to use apostrophes correctly will help you avoid common errors in your writing.
Uses of the apostrophe
The apostrophe has two primary functions in English writing. Each function follows specific rules that, once understood, make apostrophe usage straightforward and consistent.
Showing contraction (shortened words)
A contraction is a shortened version of one or more words. When we create contractions in English, we remove certain letters and replace them with an apostrophe. This makes our writing more informal and conversational.
The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters, showing readers where letters have been removed.
Examples of contractions:
- do not becomes don't (the apostrophe replaces the 'o' in 'not')
- I will becomes I'll (the apostrophe replaces 'wi')
- it is becomes it's (the apostrophe replaces the 'i')
Contractions are commonly used in informal writing and speech. In formal essays or academic work, you should generally write words out in full rather than using contractions.
Exam tip: When you see an apostrophe in a contraction, ask yourself which letters are missing. This will help you understand the full meaning of the word.
Showing possession (belonging)
Possession means ownership or belonging. We use apostrophes to show that something belongs to a person, animal, or thing.
The placement of the apostrophe depends on whether the owner is singular (one) or plural (more than one).
Rules for possessive apostrophes:
Singular nouns: Add 's to the end of the word
- Sam's book (The book belongs to Sam)
- Mpho's commitment (The commitment belongs to Mpho)
- The dog's collar (The collar belongs to the dog)
Plural nouns ending in 's': Add only the apostrophe ' after the 's'
- The players' uniforms (The uniforms belong to the players)
- The teachers' lounge (The lounge belongs to the teachers)
- The girls' bags (The bags belong to the girls)
Think of it this way: if there is already an 's' at the end because the word is plural, you only need to add the apostrophe after it.
Key point: The apostrophe comes after all the letters that spell the owner's name or identity. For plural words ending in 's', this means the apostrophe goes after the 's'.
Common apostrophe errors and corrections
Understanding common mistakes will help you avoid them in your own writing. Many apostrophe errors follow predictable patterns that are easy to correct once you recognize them.
Contractions vs possessive pronouns
One of the most common apostrophe mistakes involves confusing it's and its. Understanding the difference between these two is essential.
'It's' (with an apostrophe) means 'it is' or 'it has'
- It's raining = It is raining
- It's been a long day = It has been a long day
'Its' (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun meaning 'belonging to it'
- The dog wagged its tail (The tail belongs to the dog)
- The book lost its cover (The cover belongs to the book)
Memory aid: If you can replace the word with "it is" or "it has", then use it's with an apostrophe. If the word shows belonging, use its without an apostrophe.
Possessive pronouns (its, yours, hers, theirs, ours) never take apostrophes because they already show possession by their very nature.
Placement of the apostrophe in plural possession
When showing possession for plural nouns, the apostrophe must go in the correct position. A common error is placing it before the 's' instead of after.
Incorrect: A few second's eye contact
Correct: A few seconds' eye contact
Why? The word 'seconds' is plural (more than one second), so the apostrophe must come after the 's'. The phrase means "eye contact lasting a few seconds" - the eye contact belongs to those seconds.
Step-by-step approach:
- Identify whether the owner is singular or plural
- If plural and ending in 's', place the apostrophe after the 's'
- If singular, add 's after the word
Fixing misused apostrophes
Another common error involves adding apostrophes to pronouns that don't need them.
Incorrect: Shaking it's contents into my hands
Correct: Shaking its contents into my hands
Explanation: The word 'its' in this sentence is a possessive pronoun showing that the contents belong to something (perhaps a container). Possessive pronouns do not take apostrophes. Remember: 'its' = belonging to it (no apostrophe), while 'it's' = it is (with apostrophe).
Exam tip: When you write, always check whether you're using a contraction (it is = it's) or showing possession (its). Read the sentence aloud, substituting "it is" - if it doesn't make sense, you need the possessive form without an apostrophe.
Remember!
- Apostrophes have two main uses: showing contraction (letters left out) and showing possession (belonging).
- For contractions: The apostrophe replaces missing letters (don't = do not, I'll = I will).
- For singular possession: Add 's to the word (Sam's book, the cat's whiskers).
- For plural possession ending in 's': Add only the apostrophe after the 's' (the players' uniforms, the teachers' lounge).
- It's vs its: 'It's' means 'it is' or 'it has', while 'its' shows belonging without an apostrophe.
- Possessive pronouns (its, yours, hers, theirs) never take apostrophes - they already show possession.