Apostrophes and Contractions

Apostrophes are used to show possession, and they’re also used to indicate missing letters in contractions. Sometimes, these two uses can be confused. For instance, its is the possessive of it, but it’s is a contraction of it is.  Example:  It’s too bad its fur got wet.

An apostrophe can indicate the possessive case of both singular and plural nouns, either jointly or separately.  Examples:  This is our team’s playground, but it’s Bobby’s ball, not Bobby and Billy’s ball.

An apostrophe can also indicate the omission of numerals.  Example:  We are the class of ’08.

An apostrophe is normally used with s in expressions of time, measurement, and money (Examples:  a dollar’s worth of apples; a year’s subscription; a week’s vacation), but is not used with a plural noun used as a modifier (Examples: earnings statement and systems analyst).

An apostrophe sometimes indicates “understood” possession.  Example:  The book is at your bookseller’s.

The use of an apostrophe plus s with words ending in s or z sounds usually depends on whether a pronounceable final syllable is thus formed. If the syllable is pronounced, the apostrophe plus s is added. If no final pronounceable syllable is formed, the apostrophe is retained, but not usually the final s.  Examples:  Mr. Gomez’s store; Knox’s products; Moses’ law; for righteousness’ sake.

I have searched for some good resources to solidify your student’s understanding of contractions and possessives.  Enjoy!

Games

• Contraction Pick-Up:  Using index cards, write the contraction on one card (ex:  it’s) and write out the full words on a separate card (ex:  it is).  Do this with as many contractions as you are learning.  Mix them up and spread them on the floor.  Have your student pick up the matching sets as quickly as they can.  Time them and have them try to beat their own time.
• Contraction Matching:  Using the same index cards as above, turn them all upside down and play a matching game.  Turn up one, then another.  If they are matches (ex:  do not and don’t), they keep the cards.  Play until all have been matched.
• Contraction Bingo:  Again, use the same index cards for the call cards.  Fill in a blank Bingo sheet, like those at DLTK Kids, with the opposite of what you are calling.  For example:  If you are calling the full words (ex:  were not), then fill the cards with the contractions (ex:  weren’t).  Play with any manipulatives you have available (beans, coins, etc..).
• Dry Erase:  Using a dry erase board, write out the full words next to each other (ex:  cannot).  Let the student use a different color and wipe away the letters that are taken out and fill in the apostrophe (ex:  cannot- student would erase one “n” and an “o” to end up with can’t).

Books

Alfie the Apostrophe

If You Were a Contraction

Online Games

• Exploring for Possessives is a fun, interactive game to learn to recognize possessive forms.
• Quia has a set of games on contractions and possessive nouns.
• Treasure Trove is a fun, interactive game to learn contractions.
• Here is a game for singular possessive nouns.

Worksheets

• Enchanted Learning has plenty of worksheets on contractions.
• CREATE for Mississippi has a free lesson plan on possessives.  Handout 1 is a pdf printout on apostrophes.
• Get grade level specific worksheets on apostrophes and contractions from Ed Helper.
• Print customized worksheets on possessives from Worksheet Works.

Remember to write me at Contact HMHS to submit any questions related to Language Arts! I will answer them in upcoming blogs.

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