---
title: "Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession"
description: "Use apostrophes in writing for both contraction (marking omitted letters) and singular possession, distinguishing the two uses"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-contraction-and-possession-mt_mKAZTqItRG
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-contraction-and-possession-mt_mKAZTqItRG.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

> **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants.
> When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md
> API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md
> Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt
> Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json
> Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`.

# Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession

Use apostrophes in writing for both contraction (marking omitted letters) and singular possession, distinguishing the two uses

Subject: English · Area: Grammar & Punctuation · Ages 6 to 7
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-contraction-and-possession-mt_mKAZTqItRG

## Ready when they can

- Use apostrophes correctly in both 'don't' and 'Sam's bag' within the same piece of writing
- Explain the difference between apostrophe for contraction and apostrophe for possession
- Correct misplaced or missing apostrophes in a set of sentences

## Lesson: Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession

An apostrophe looks like a tiny floating comma. It does two different jobs you will use when you write. Sometimes it shows that letters are missing from a word. Sometimes it shows that something belongs to someone.

*(drawing: 'Do not' squashes into 'don't'. The apostrophe sits right where the missing o used to be.)*

**Example.** Leo has a bike. It is Leo's bike. The apostrophe and s after his name show that the bike belongs to him, not to anyone else.

**Tip.** To tell the two jobs apart, ask yourself a question. Are two words squashed into one, with letters missing? That is a contraction, like don't or it's. Does something belong to someone? That is possession, like Sam's bag or the cat's tail.

**Recap.** One little mark, two jobs: missing letters make a contraction, and apostrophe plus s shows something belongs to someone.

## Practice

24 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Spelling Contracted Forms](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-contracted-forms-mt_IntmJBg4VQ)
- [Starting and ending sentences](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/starting-and-ending-sentences-mt_QEr24lqzvH)
- [Apostrophes for possession](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-for-possession-mt_Z3G_97fnha)

## Opens up

- [Plural vs Possessive in Nouns](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/plural-vs-possessive-in-nouns-mt_bn5ggh84qD)
- [Grammar Terms: Nouns, Verbs and Tense](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-nouns-verbs-and-tense-mt_qzwQAOfurw)