Students learning English quickly learn that the apostrophe in English is normally used to make a contraction.
For example, instead of writing IT IS, you can write IT’S
Instead of HE IS, we can write HE’S … etc.

However the apostrophe is not only used to show a contraction has been made.
It is also commonly used to show that something belongs to someone or has a relationship with them.
This is called the Genitive Case and also the Possessive Case.

Check out the two charts I have made to explain when we use to use the apostrophe:

This is the original chart I created in 2012…

A chart explaining when to use the Apostrophe S in English

And this is the new chart I created in 2019:

Apostrophe S - Possessive Nouns in English - Genitive Case

It is nice to see my charts improve a little over time 🙂

PLEASE NOTE: We do NOT use the Apostrophe S to make singular words plural. 1 apple, 2 apples (Not 2 apple’s)

More information about the Apostrophe S

For more information about using ‘S, check out:

I hope you found this useful.

 

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