Writing: Basic Mechanics & Formation (Review & Accuracy) (B1) - Lesson 3: Using Apostrophes for Contractions & Basic Possession
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Hello B1 Learners! 👋
Today, we're going to look at a small but very useful punctuation mark: the apostrophe. It looks like this: '
Apostrophes have a few jobs in English. We will focus on two main uses today: contractions and showing possession (who owns something).
In this lesson, you will learn:
- How to form and use common contractions (e.g., "don't", "it's").
- How to use apostrophes to show that something belongs to a single person or thing (e.g., "Maria's book").
- The important difference between "it's" and "its".
Apostrophes for Contractions
A contraction is a short way to write two words together. The apostrophe ' shows where one or more letters have been left out.
Contractions are very common in spoken English and informal writing.
Common Examples:
| Full Form | Contraction | Example Sentence with Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| is not | isn't | He isn't here. |
| are not | aren't | They aren't ready. |
| do not | don't | I don't like spiders. |
| does not | doesn't | She doesn't live here. |
| I am | I'm | I'm happy. |
| you are | you're | You're my friend. |
| he is / he has | he's | He's tall. / He's got a new car. |
| she is / she has | she's | She's kind. / She's finished her work. |
| it is / it has | it's | It's a sunny day. / It's been fun. |
| we are | we're | We're going now. |
| they are | they're | They're late. |
| will not | won't | I won't be there. |
| cannot | can't | We can't go. |
Apostrophes for Possession (Singular Nouns)
We use an apostrophe ' + s ('s) to show that something belongs to a single person, animal, or thing.
Examples:
- The toy of the cat → the cat's toy
- The book belonging to Maria → Maria's book
- The house of my friend → my friend's house
- The car of the man → the man's car
Note on Plural Possession: For plural nouns already ending in -s, we usually just add an apostrophe after the -s (e.g., the students' books). For plural nouns not ending in -s, we add 's (e.g., the children's toys). We'll focus more on plural possession in a later lesson. Today, our main focus is singular possession.
A Very Common Confusion: It's vs. Its
This is a tricky one for many learners! Let's make it clear.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| It's (with an apostrophe) | This is a contraction for "it is" or "it has". | It's a beautiful day. (It is a beautiful day.) It's been a long time. (It has been a long time.) |
| Its (no apostrophe) | This shows possession for "it". It's like "his" or "her", but for things or animals. | The cat chased its tail. (The tail belongs to the cat.) The company announced its profits. (The profits belong to the company.) |
Quick Tip: If you can replace the word with "it is" or "it has" and the sentence still makes sense, then use it's. If not, use its.
Practice Using Apostrophes!
Let's practice what you've learned about contractions, possession, and it's/its.
✨ Tips for Using Apostrophes ✨
- Contractions Shorten Words: Think of the apostrophe as taking the place of missing letters (e.g., "o" in "not" for "isn't").
- Possession Shows Ownership: For a single owner, add 's (the dog's bone).
- "It's" means "It is" or "It has": Test it! If you can say "it is" or "it has", use it's.
- "Its" shows possession (like his/her): The cat loves its toy (the toy belonging to it).
- Proofread Carefully: When you write, check your apostrophes. They are small but important!
Excellent Apostrophe Work! 👍
You've learned how to use apostrophes for contractions and showing possession. This will make your writing clearer and more like native English!