The Apostrophe: When and How to Use It (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes
The Apostrophe: When and How to Use It
The apostrophe (') is a small but powerful punctuation mark that serves two main purposes in English writing. Understanding when and how to use it correctly will help you avoid common mistakes in your written work and improve your overall language skills.
What is an apostrophe used for?
The apostrophe has two primary functions that you need to master for your NSC English exam:
1. Showing contractions (shortened words)
Contractions are shortened versions of two words combined into one. The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters that have been removed when the words are joined together.
When you create a contraction, you're essentially removing certain letters and replacing them with an apostrophe. This makes speech sound more natural and informal.
Common Contraction Examples:
- do not becomes don't (the apostrophe replaces the missing 'o')
- I will becomes I'll (the apostrophe replaces the missing 'wi')
- it is becomes it's (the apostrophe replaces the missing 'i')
Other common contractions include: can't (cannot), won't (will not), shouldn't (should not), and we're (we are).
2. Showing possession (ownership)
Possession means showing that something belongs to someone or something else. The apostrophe helps us indicate ownership without using longer phrases like "the book that belongs to Sam."
The rules for possessive apostrophes depend on whether the noun is singular or plural:
For 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 teacher's desk (the desk belongs to the teacher)
For 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 students' books (the books belong to the students)
Common apostrophe errors and how to fix them
Many students struggle with apostrophes, but understanding these common mistakes will help you use them correctly:
Contractions vs possessive pronouns
One of the most frequent errors involves confusing it's and its:
Critical Distinction:
- It's (with apostrophe) = it is or it has
- "It's raining outside" means "It is raining outside"
- Its (without apostrophe) = possessive pronoun showing ownership
- "The dog wagged its tail" (the tail belongs to the dog)
Memory tip: If you can replace the word with "it is" in your sentence, then use "it's" with an apostrophe.
Plural possession placement
When dealing with plural words, the apostrophe placement is crucial:
Correct Plural Possession:
- Incorrect: "A few second's eye contact"
- Correct: "A few seconds' eye contact"
Since "seconds" is already plural (ending in 's'), the apostrophe goes after the 's' to show possession.
Misused apostrophes with pronouns
Remember: Possessive pronouns never take apostrophes
- Incorrect: "Shaking it's contents into my hands"
- Correct: "Shaking its contents into my hands"
The word "its" is a possessive pronoun (like his, hers, theirs) and doesn't need an apostrophe to show possession.
Exam tips for apostrophe usage
Essential Exam Strategies:
- Always ask yourself: "Am I showing a contraction or possession?"
- For contractions, try expanding the word - if it makes sense as two words, you need the apostrophe
- For possession, identify if the owner is singular or plural, then apply the appropriate rule
- Watch out for possessive pronouns - they never need apostrophes
- In formal writing, avoid contractions altogether
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Contractions: Apostrophes replace missing letters in shortened word combinations (don't, it's, I'll)
- Singular possession: Add 's to singular nouns to show ownership (Sam's book, teacher's car)
- Plural possession: Add only ' after the 's' in plural nouns (players' uniforms, teachers' lounge)
- It's vs Its: "It's" means "it is" while "its" shows possession without an apostrophe
- Possessive pronouns: Words like its, his, hers, theirs never take apostrophes