Apostrophes

Apostrophes can seem tricky when learning English, but they’re actually easy to understand. Apostrophes serve two main purposes: to show possession and to form contractions, which are shortened forms of words.

1. Apostrophes in Contractions

When we speak quickly or shorten phrases, we use contractions. Apostrophes show where letters have been left out. Here are some common examples:

• Verbs with “not”: can’t (cannot), don’t (do not), isn’t (is not)
• Will with pronouns: I’ll (I will), he’ll (he will), they’ll (they will)
• Forms of “to be”: I’m (I am), you’re (you are), we’re (we are)
• To have: I’ve (I have), he’s (he has), they’ve (they have)
• Would or had: I’d (I would/I had), she’d (she would/she had), they’d (they would/they had)

2. Apostrophes to Show Possession

We also use apostrophes to show that something belongs to someone. For example:

• This is Sarah’s book. (The book belongs to Sarah.)
• The cat’s toy is missing. (The toy belongs to the cat.)

For plural nouns that already end in “s,” the apostrophe goes after the “s”:

• The teachers’ lounge is upstairs. (The lounge belongs to the teachers.)

Common Confusions

There are a few tricky cases where people often get confused. Here’s a quick guide to avoid common mistakes:

Confusing Pair	Meaning	Examples
It’s vs. Its	It’s = it is or it has	It’s raining outside (It is raining).
	Its = possessive form	The dog wagged its tail.
Who’s vs. Whose	Who’s = who is or who has	Who’s coming to the party? (Who is coming?)
	Whose = possessive form	Whose book is this? (Who does the book belong to?)
You’re vs. Your	You’re = you are	You’re doing great! (You are doing great!)
	Your = possessive form	Is this your pen?
They’re vs. Their	They’re = they are	They’re ready to go (They are ready).
	Their = possessive form	Their house is beautiful.

Conclusion

By understanding these simple rules, you can confidently use apostrophes in your writing and speech. Practice makes perfect, and soon you’ll be using apostrophes like a pro!