Worksheet

2.3b Getting apostrophes right

Apostrophes are used:

1 to show possession with a noun, for example:
Bella’s basket, the girl’s football, Miko’s flute, the box’s lid, the dogs’ leads,
the women’s cell phones.
(Do not use apostrophes in straight plural forms of nouns, for example:
I bought some apples and mangoes.)
2 to shorten words in contracted forms, for example:
can’t instead of cannot
don’t instead of do not.
When you are writing these shortened forms, check where the letters are that
you have missed out and mark the spot with an apostrophe: shouldn’t. If you
cannot see how the word has been shrunk, don’t use an apostrophe.

Task 1 Add some more examples of using apostrophes to show possession:

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Task 2 Shorten the following:

• would not = …………………………….

• could not = …………………………….
• will not = ……………………………. (careful here)
• it is = …………………………….
• there is = …………………………….
• she has = …………………………….
• we have = …………………………….

Think of three more examples, if you can:

• ……………………. = …………………………….

• ……………………. = …………………………….

•
Key technical skills
Chapter 2

……………………. = …………………………….

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