Apostrophes and punctuation practice
Noggli practises punctuation step by step: sentence endings, commas in lists, apostrophes for missing letters and for possession, then punctuating speech.
What your child practises
- Year 2choose full stops, question marks and exclamation marks
- Year 3use commas in a list
- Year 3use apostrophes for contractions
- Year 4use apostrophes for singular and plural possession
- Year 5punctuate direct speech
Mix-ups Noggli looks out for
- Leaves the apostrophe out of contractions and possession
- Puts the apostrophe in the wrong place for plural owners
Apostrophes for possession
One owner: add 's (the dog's bone). More than one owner ending in s: add just an apostrophe (the dogs' bones). Plurals that do not end in s, like mice or children, take 's (the mice's nest).
Apostrophes for contractions and speech marks
In contractions the apostrophe goes where letters are missing: have not becomes haven't. In Year 5, direct speech needs inverted commas around the words spoken, with the punctuation inside them.
Helping at home
- Ask "who owns it, one or more than one?" before placing an apostrophe.
- Spot apostrophes on shop signs and decide if they are right.
- Read speech aloud to hear where the spoken words start and stop.
Made for children who worry about getting it wrong
A clue, not a cross
A wrong answer gets a clue and another go. A second miss shows how it works, step by step.
No clock
Nothing counts down. Confidence first, speed follows on its own.
The right level
After a few questions Noggli knows where your child is, and every question after that adapts.
Related practice
Questions parents ask
How do you use an apostrophe for possession?
For one owner add 's. For plural owners ending in s add only an apostrophe after the s. For plurals not ending in s, add 's.
Is it the mices' nest or the mice's nest?
The mice's nest. Mice is already plural and does not end in s, so it takes 's.
When do children learn apostrophes?
Contractions start in Year 2 and Year 3. Possession for one owner is Year 2, and plural possession is Year 4.
Practise this every day, at the right level
Noggli works out where your child is in every topic and adjusts each question to suit. Free, with no timers, no scores and no child accounts.