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Apostrophes for Possession — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 4 punctuation worksheet.

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Year 4 · English · Punctuation

Apostrophes for Possession — Answers

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Part A — Who owns it?

Add 's for one owner (the cat's tail). If there is more than one owner and the word ends in s, add the apostrophe after the s (the cats' tails). Circle the correct answer.

1.One dog owns the bowl. Which is correct?
  1. AThe dogs bowl is empty.
  2. BThe dog's bowl is empty.
  3. CThe dogs' bowl is empty.
  4. DThe dogs bowl's is empty.

Answer: The dog's bowl is empty.

One owner: add 's to 'dog'.

2.Mia owns the bike. Which is correct?
  1. AMias bike
  2. BMia's bike
  3. CMias' bike
  4. DMia bike's

Answer: Mia's bike

One owner: Mia's.

3.Several teachers share a staffroom. Which is correct?
  1. Athe teacher's staffroom
  2. Bthe teachers staffroom
  3. Cthe teachers' staffroom
  4. Dthe teachers's staffroom

Answer: the teachers' staffroom

More than one owner, and the plural ends in s: add the apostrophe after the s.

4.The children own the toys. Which is correct?
  1. Athe childrens' toys
  2. Bthe children's toys
  3. Cthe childrens toys
  4. Dthe childrens's toys

Answer: the children's toys

'Children' is already plural and does not end in s, so add 's.

Part B — Rewrite with an apostrophe

Rewrite each phrase using a possessive apostrophe.

5.the tail of the cat → the tail

Answer: cat's

6.the hats of the boys → the hats

Answer: boys'

7.the car of Mr Patel → car

Answer: Mr Patel's

8.the nests of the birds → the nests

Answer: birds'

9.the toys of the men → the toys

Answer: men's

'Men' is plural but does not end in s, so add 's.

10.the pencil of my sister → my pencil

Answer: sister's

Part C — Possession or contraction?

Does the apostrophe show possession (belonging) or a contraction (missing letters)? Write your answer on the line.

11.The kangaroo's joey hopped away.

Answer: possession

  1. The joey belongs to the kangaroo.
12.It's going to rain.

Answer: contraction

  1. It's = it is.
13.The students' projects are on display.

Answer: possession

  1. The projects belong to the students.
14.She's finished her lunch.

Answer: contraction

  1. She's = she has.

Part D — Your turn

15.Write three sentences about things that belong to people in your family or class. Use a possessive apostrophe in each one. Include at least one owner that is plural.

Model answer: My brother's skateboard is covered in stickers. The twins' bedroom is always messy. Our teacher's desk has a jar of pencils on it.

Success criteria:

  • Three complete sentences
  • A possessive apostrophe in each sentence
  • At least one plural owner punctuated correctly
  • Capital letters and full stops
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