Apostrophes do two jobs: they show a missing letter (it’s = it is) and they show belonging (Sam’s hat). The trouble starts when the two jobs look alike. Apostrophe Alley tackles the pairs that catch out almost everyone.
Apa yang akan dipelajari anak anda
- Choose between its and it’s, your and you’re
- Choose between their, there and they’re
- Place the apostrophe for one owner (the girl’s bag) and several owners (the girls’ bags)
- Know that ordinary plurals never need an apostrophe
Try the long version
If you can swap in “it is” and the sentence still makes sense, write it’s. If not, write its — the one that shows belonging has no apostrophe. For owners, write down who owns it first, then add the apostrophe: one boy → the boy’s hat; three boys → the boys’ hats; children → the children’s toys.
Contoh soalan
Berikut ialah beberapa soalan seperti dalam misi pertama. Bolehkah anda menjawabnya?
1. Which word fits? “___ my best friend.”
- Your
- Youre
- Yore
- You’re
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: You’re. You’re is short for “you are”.
2. Which word fits? “Put the book over ___.”
- they’re
- their
- there
- thier
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: there. There is about a place.
3. Which word fits? “The children put on ___ shoes.”
- thier
- their
- there
- they’re
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: their. Their shows that the shoes belong to them.
Tip untuk orang dewasa
- Read sentences aloud with “it is” in place of it’s to test them.
- Look for wrongly used apostrophes on shop signs and menus.
- Make a poster of their, there and they’re with a picture clue for each.