Understand the rule first
For possession, identify the owner first: singular owners usually add ’s; regular plural owners ending in s add the apostrophe after s. Contractions replace omitted letters.
Apostrophes 11+ practice
Use apostrophes accurately for possession and missing letters.
Punctuate: the coats belonging to several girls.
- There is more than one girl, so the owner is girls.
- Girls already ends in s.
- Place the apostrophe after the s: the girls’ coats.
A common misconception
Adding an apostrophe to every plural word ending in s.
Reusable method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.Question 1 of 10 EnglishcoreWhich phrase means one dog owns the lead?
- Athe dogs lead
- Bthe dogs’ lead
- Cthe dog lead
- Dthe dog’s lead
Need a hint?
The owner is singular, so add apostrophe-s.
Show worked answer
Answer D: the dog’s lead
The dog’s lead shows possession by one dog.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 2 of 10 EnglishcoreWhich sentence uses a contraction correctly?
- AIt’s beginning to rain.
- BIts beginning to rain.
- CIts’ beginning to rain.
- DIt is’ beginning to rain.
Need a hint?
Replace ‘it is’ with its contracted form.
Show worked answer
Answer A: It’s beginning to rain.
It’s is the contraction of it is.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 3 of 10 EnglishcoreWhich phrase means the room used by all the teachers?
- Athe teacher’s room
- Bthe teachers’ room
- Cthe teachers room
- Dthe teacher room’s
Need a hint?
The plural owner teachers already ends in s.
Show worked answer
Answer B: the teachers’ room
The teachers’ room places the apostrophe after the plural owner.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 4 of 10 Englishexam-styleWhich sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AThe childrens’ books were new.
- BThe childrens books were new.
- CThe children’s books were new.
- DThe childrens’s books were new.
Need a hint?
Children is an irregular plural that does not end in s.
Show worked answer
Answer C: The children’s books were new.
Add ’s to the plural owner children: the children’s books.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 5 of 10 Englishexam-styleWhich sentence uses apostrophes correctly?
- AWe cant find Amir’s keys.
- BWe can’t find Amirs keys.
- CWe cant find Amirs’ keys.
- DWe can’t find Amir’s keys.
Need a hint?
Check both the contraction and the singular possession.
Show worked answer
Answer D: We can’t find Amir’s keys.
Can’t marks the omitted letters in cannot, and Amir’s shows that the keys belong to Amir.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 6 of 10 EnglishcoreWhich phrase means ‘the bag belonging to one girl’?
- Athe girls bag
- Bthe girls’ bag
- Cthe girl’s bag
- Dthe girl bag’s
Need a hint?
For one owner, place ’s after the singular noun.
Show worked answer
Answer C: the girl’s bag
One girl owns the bag, so the singular possessive form is ‘the girl’s bag’.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 7 of 10 EnglishcoreWhich phrase correctly shows toys belonging to several children?
- Athe childrens toys
- Bthe childrens’ toys
- Cthe childrens’s toys
- Dthe children’s toys
Need a hint?
Children is an irregular plural that does not end in s.
Show worked answer
Answer D: the children’s toys
Add ’s to the irregular plural ‘children’: ‘the children’s toys’.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 8 of 10 EnglishcoreChoose the correct word: ‘___ been raining since dawn.’
- AIt’s
- BIts
- CIts’
- DIt is’
Need a hint?
Use the contraction of ‘it has’.
Show worked answer
Answer A: It’s
‘It’s’ can mean ‘it has’: ‘It has been raining since dawn.’
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 9 of 10 EnglishexamWhich phrase correctly refers to bowls belonging to two dogs?
- Athe dog’s bowls
- Bthe dogs’ bowls
- Cthe dogs bowls’
- Dthe dog’s’ bowls
Need a hint?
The plural noun already ends in s, so put the apostrophe after it.
Show worked answer
Answer B: the dogs’ bowls
Two dogs own the bowls, so the plural possessive form is ‘the dogs’ bowls’.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.
Question 10 of 10 EnglishstretchWhich sentence uses both possessive apostrophes correctly?
- AThe player’s changing room was beside the childrens’ entrance.
- BThe players changing room was beside the childrens entrance.
- CThe players’ changing room was beside the children’s entrance.
- DThe players’s changing room was beside the childrens’ entrance.
Need a hint?
One noun is a regular plural; the other is an irregular plural.
Show worked answer
Answer C: The players’ changing room was beside the children’s entrance.
‘Players’ room’ uses an apostrophe after the plural s; ‘children’s entrance’ adds ’s to the irregular plural.
Quick method: Decide who owns the object before placing the apostrophe.