Apostrophes (KS2): Possession and Contraction

The apostrophe is a small mark that does two big jobs, and getting it right is one of the most useful punctuation skills a Year 6 child can learn. In this guide we will explain both jobs clearly, share simple examples, untangle the famous its vs it's mix-up, and look at how apostrophes appear in the KS2 SPaG paper.

The two jobs of the apostrophe

An apostrophe only ever does one of two things, and naming the job is the first step to using it correctly:

• Contraction: showing that letters have been missed out, as in can't.
• Possession: showing that something belongs to someone or something, as in Sam's coat.

If an apostrophe is not doing one of these jobs, it is almost certainly in the wrong place. A common slip is adding one to an ordinary plural: we write three apples, not "three apple's", because nothing is shortened or owned. For more on forming plurals correctly, see our guide to plurals and spelling rules at KS2.

Apostrophes for contraction

A contraction is what we get when we squash two words together and miss out a letter or two. The apostrophe goes exactly where the missing letters used to be. Here are some everyday examples:

Notice that the apostrophe sits precisely at the gap. In do not, the missing letter is the o, so the apostrophe goes between the n and the t to give don't. A handy check is to ask which letters have disappeared, then drop the apostrophe in.

Apostrophes for possession: singular nouns

The second job is showing possession, which simply means ownership. To show that a single person or thing owns something, add an apostrophe and the letter s to the owner.

The teacher's desk was tidy.

This means the desk belonging to the teacher. The apostrophe plus s attaches to the owner, not to the thing owned. A few more singular examples:

• the dog's lead (the lead belonging to the dog)
• my brother's bike (the bike belonging to my brother)

This pattern works even when a name already ends in s. For a singular name such as James, current KS2 guidance accepts adding apostrophe s: James's book. Saying it aloud helps, because we naturally pronounce the extra "iz" sound.

Apostrophes for possession: plural nouns and names ending in s

This is the part that trips many people up, and the rule depends on whether the plural word already ends in s.

When the plural already ends in s, put the apostrophe straight after the s and do not add another one:

The girls' changing room was busy.

Here there is more than one girl, so the word is already girls, and the apostrophe simply goes after the existing s. Compare these carefully:

• the dog's bowl (one dog)
• the dogs' bowls (more than one dog)

When the plural does not end in s, such as an irregular plural, add apostrophe s just as you would for a singular noun:

• the children's playground
• the men's team
• the people's choice

So the question is always: does this plural already end in s? If yes, the apostrophe goes after the s. If not, add apostrophe s.

The its vs it's rule

This is the single most common apostrophe mistake, and the good news is that there is one quick test that always works.

• it's (with an apostrophe) is the contraction of it is or it has.
• its (no apostrophe) shows possession, like his or her.

The test is simple: if you can swap the word for it is and the sentence still makes sense, use it's. If not, use its with no apostrophe.

It's raining outside. (It is raining outside, so the apostrophe is correct.)

The cat licked its paws. (We cannot say "it is paws", so there is no apostrophe.)

It feels odd because possession normally uses an apostrophe, but its belongs to a special family of ownership words, just like his, hers and theirs, none of which take an apostrophe either.

How apostrophes are tested in the KS2 SPaG paper

In the Year 6 SPaG test, apostrophes can appear in several ways. Pupils might be asked to:

• add a missing apostrophe to a sentence,
• choose the sentence that uses the apostrophe correctly,
• rewrite two words, such as it is, as a single contraction,
• identify whether an apostrophe shows possession or contraction.

Questions often check the its vs it's rule and the difference between singular and plural possession, so those areas are worth practising. For a friendly overview of the paper, read our explainer on what the SPaG test involves. Test dates and arrangements can change each year, so always confirm the latest details on GOV.UK.

Practice and a quick apostrophe checklist

Have a go at deciding where each apostrophe belongs, or whether one is needed at all.

1. The boys football boots were muddy. (more than one boy)
2. Its a sunny day today.
3. The babys rattle fell on the floor. (one baby)
4. The womens race starts at noon.

Answers: 1. boys'; 2. It's (it is); 3. baby's; 4. women's (an irregular plural).

A quick checklist to use every time:

• Is this apostrophe doing a job: contraction or possession? If not, remove it.
• For contractions, does it sit exactly where letters are missing?
• For possession, does the plural already end in s? Put the apostrophe after the s; otherwise add apostrophe s.
• For its, can you swap in it is? If not, leave the apostrophe out.

If you would also like to firm up where other marks belong, our guide to using commas at KS2 is a natural next step.

How SATS LION helps

SATS LION turns SPaG practice into a game, so tricky punctuation such as apostrophes feels more like play than revision. Questions follow the England KS2 curriculum and gently revisit common slips, like the its vs it's rule, until they feel secure. You can explore how it works and see whether a game-first approach suits your young writer.