Correcting Errors with Apostrophes and Possessives — A Grade 6 Guide

Remember how we wrestled with they're/their/there? Think of apostrophes as the tiny punctuation superheroes that still cause big drama. Time to tame them.

Quick refresher (no yawns, promise)

You already practiced choosing the correct words (they're/their/there) and used creative writing techniques like personification and dialogue. Apostrophes show up in both: in contractions when characters speak, and in possessives when you give things feelings or ownership (e.g., the tree's branches reached like fingers). So this lesson picks up where you left off — editing with an eye for apostrophes.

What do apostrophes actually do? (Two official jobs)

• Contractions: they squish words together and show letters were removed. Example: it's = it is; you're = you are.
• Possession: they show something belongs to someone or something. Example: Sam's backpack (the backpack belongs to Sam).

Important rule-of-thumb: Apostrophes are not for making regular plurals. (No, we don't write apple's to mean more than one apple.)

The main rules — short and sticky

1) Singular nouns (one owner)

• Add 's. Example: the cat's whiskers.

2) Plural nouns ending in -s (many owners)

• Add only an ' after the s. Example: the cats' bowl (bowl used by many cats).

3) Irregular plural nouns (don't end with -s)

• Add 's. Example: the children's playground.

4) Joint vs. separate possession (tiny grammar drama)

• If two people own one thing together: use one apostrophe at the end: Emma and Noah's boat (they share the boat).
• If they own things separately: use 's for each: Emma's and Noah's backpacks (each has their own backpack).

5) Possessive pronouns — no apostrophes!

• Words like your/yours, their/theirs, its, our/ours are already possessive. Do not add an apostrophe.
  • Correct: The dog wagged its tail.
  • Wrong: The dog wagged it's tail.

Common traps (you've seen these before)

• Its vs. It's — its = belonging to it; it's = it is or it has.
• Plural nouns vs. possessives — the teachers room vs the teachers' room (should be teachers' room or better: the teachers' lounge).
• Decades and abbreviations — style guides differ: 1990s (no apostrophe) is common; 1990's is older style.

"This is the moment where the concept finally clicks." — That moment usually arrives when you read your sentence aloud and your ear tells you whether you mean it is (contraction) or belonging to it (possessive).

Editing checklist: How to correct apostrophe errors (step-by-step)

1. Read the sentence aloud. If you hear it is or you are, you probably need a contraction like it's or you're.
2. Ask: Is something owning something? If yes, it's a possessive. Find the owner (noun) and add the correct apostrophe form.
3. If the word is a possessive pronoun (yours, theirs, its, ours), remove any apostrophe — it doesn't belong.
4. For plurals, check if the noun already ends in s. If it's plural and owns something, put the apostrophe after the s.
5. Check joint vs separate owners (Emma and Noah).
6. If unsure, rewrite the phrase: replace the possessive with "the X of Y". Example: the dog's owner = the owner of the dog; the owners of the dogs = the dogs' owners.

Real examples (before → after + why)

1. Before: The dogs bone was buried.
   After: The dog's bone was buried.
   Why: One dog (singular) owns the bone → 's.

2. Before: The dogs' owner fed them.
   After: The dogs' owner fed them.
   Why: Many dogs (plural) share the same owner → apostrophe after s.

3. Before: Its raining outside.
   After: It's raining outside.
   Why: It's = it is (contraction). Its would mean belonging to it.

4. Before: The childrens toys were scattered.
   After: The children's toys were scattered.
   Why: Children is an irregular plural (doesn't end in s), so add 's.

5. Before: Sarah and Tom's project won.
   After: Sarah and Tom's project won.
   Why: They worked on one project together → joint possession.

6. Before: Sarah's and Tom's notebooks were on the desk.
   After: Sarah's and Tom's notebooks were on the desk.
   Why: They each had their own notebook → separate possession.

Quick practice (try these — then check answers)

Correct the apostrophes (or say why none are needed):

1. The teachers lounge is closed.
2. The moon's light was silver.
3. Its been a long day for the players.
4. The boys shoes were muddy.
5. Whose jacket is this? / Who's jacket is this?
6. 2000s music is fun.

Answers (no peeking until you're done):

1. The teachers' lounge is closed. (many teachers → plural possessive)
2. The moon's light was silver. (moon owns the light)
3. It's been a long day for the players. (contraction: it has)
4. The boys' shoes were muddy. (boys = plural → apostrophe after s)
5. Correct: Whose jacket is this? (whose shows ownership). Who's would mean "who is".
6. 2000s music is fun. (no apostrophe for decades — modern style)

Tiny creative-writing tip (tie-in with earlier lesson)

When you're personifying objects (remember: the wind's fingers, the house's sigh), decide if the object "owns" the action or trait. Possessives can make images stronger — but don't overdo apostrophes just because something feels owned. Keep it crisp.

Key takeaways (the things your brain will love)

• Apostrophes = contractions OR possession. Two jobs, not three.
• Don’t use apostrophes to make regular plurals.
• Use 's for singular possessive and for irregular plurals; use s' for regular plural possessive.
• Possessive pronouns (its, theirs, yours) never need apostrophes.
• Read your sentences out loud while editing — your ear often knows before your eyes.

Go edit like a punctuation detective. Find the owner, ask is it "it is" or ownership?, and place that little apostrophe exactly where it belongs. You’ve got this — now make those sentences sparkle.