Need help with Apostrophes - Singular Possessive (to Nouns)? Ask our AI Tutor!

AI Tutor - Lucy

Connecting with Tutor...

Please wait while we establish connection

Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Apostrophes - Singular Possessive (to Nouns) today?

now

English Quiz - Apostrophes - Singular Possessive (to Nouns) (Questions)

Learn how apostrophes show when something belongs to one person or thing, like the boy’s ball or the dog’s bed, in simple KS1-friendly steps.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Use “the boy’s ball” when the ball belongs to one boy, with ’s joined straight onto boy.

In KS1 English, children learn to add an apostrophe and s to singular nouns to show ownership. This makes meaning clear, like “the cat’s bowl” or “the girl’s book”.

Key Terms

Noun: A word that names a person, place or thing, like boy, ball, cat.
Singular noun: A noun that means one person, place or thing, like girl or pencil.
Possessive apostrophe: An apostrophe and s (’s) that shows something belongs to someone or something.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How do you use apostrophes for singular nouns in KS1?

For a singular noun, add ’s to show ownership. For example, “the boy’s coat” means the coat belongs to one boy.

What is the difference between plural s and possessive ’s?

A plural s means more than one, like “dogs”. A possessive ’s shows belonging, like “dog’s lead”, meaning the lead belongs to one dog.

Where does the apostrophe go for one person or thing?

For one person or thing, the apostrophe goes before the s, like “Mia’s teddy” or “the cat’s tail”.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1.

This cat's tail is in the air. Why is there an apostrophe in the word 'cat's'?

[ ]	Because there is more than one cat.
[ ]	Because there is more than one tail.
[ ]	Because the cat doesn't own a tail and doesn't want one.
[ ]	Because the cat owns his tail.

2.

The kangaroos ears were long. Which word should have an apostrophe?

[ ]	ears
[ ]	kangaroos
[ ]	long
[ ]	the

3.

Which sentence is correct?

[ ]	The boys school bag was full of equipment.
[ ]	The boys' school bag was full of equipment.
[ ]	The boy's school bag was full of equipment.
[ ]	The boys's school bag was full of equipment.

4.

Which sentence is correct?

[ ]	The elephant's trunk was long.
[ ]	The elephants trunk was long.
[ ]	The elephant's' trunk was long.
[ ]	The elephants's trunk was long.

5.

Which sentence shows a possessive noun being used correctly?

[ ]	The pirates took control of the beach.
[ ]	The pirate stood on the beach.
[ ]	The pirate's spy glass had broken.
[ ]	Pirates' like food.

6.

Which of these is the shorter way of saying: The castle belongs to the knight?

[ ]	The knights castle.
[ ]	The knight's castle.
[ ]	The castle that belongs to the knight.
[ ]	The castle is owned by and belonging to the knight.

7.

Which of these sentences is perfect?

[ ]	The dogs treat was delicious.
[ ]	The dog's treat's was delicious.
[ ]	The dog's treat was delicious'.
[ ]	The dog's treat was delicious.

8.

Which sentence is perfect?

[ ]	The soldier's hat was wrong, he realised he took his brothers hat by mistake.
[ ]	The soldier's hat was wrong, he realised he took his brother's hat by mistake.
[ ]	The soldiers hat was wrong, he realised he took his brother's hat by mistake.
[ ]	The soldiers hat was wrong, he realised he took his brothers hat by mistake.

9.

Which sentence is perfect?

[ ]	The bride's dress was stunning, all the guest's enjoyed the wedding and the groom's suit looked very smart.
[ ]	The bride's dress was stunning, all the guests enjoyed the wedding and the grooms suit looked very smart.
[ ]	The brides dress was stunning, all the guests enjoyed the wedding and the groom's suit looked very smart.
[ ]	The bride's dress was stunning, all the guests enjoyed the wedding and the groom's suit looked very smart.

10.

Which sentence is perfect?

[ ]	The bird's feathers were brightly coloured. The girls' hand was shaking when she held him.
[ ]	The bird's feathers were brightly coloured. The girl's hand was shaking when she held him.
[ ]	The bird's feathers were brightly coloured. The girls hand was shaking when she held him.
[ ]	The birds feathers were brightly coloured. The girls hand was shaking when she held him.

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Using apostrophes to show belonging

English Quiz - Apostrophes - Singular Possessive (to Nouns) (Answers)

1.

This cat's tail is in the air. Why is there an apostrophe in the word 'cat's'?

[ ]	Because there is more than one cat.
[ ]	Because there is more than one tail.
[ ]	Because the cat doesn't own a tail and doesn't want one.
[x]	Because the cat owns his tail.

Cats spend two thirds of their lives sleeping.

2.

The kangaroos ears were long. Which word should have an apostrophe?

[ ]	ears
[x]	kangaroos
[ ]	long
[ ]	the

The kangaroo's ears were long. He owns his ears, that's why there is an apostrophe there. They have large ears that can swivel in all directions.

3.

Which sentence is correct?

[ ]	The boys school bag was full of equipment.
[ ]	The boys' school bag was full of equipment.
[x]	The boy's school bag was full of equipment.
[ ]	The boys's school bag was full of equipment.

There are two potential correct answers here. If there was more than one boy it would be boys' but because there is only one boy and only he owns the bag, it's boy's. This is elaborated on in a different quiz!

4.

Which sentence is correct?

[x]	The elephant's trunk was long.
[ ]	The elephants trunk was long.
[ ]	The elephant's' trunk was long.
[ ]	The elephants's trunk was long.

Elephant trunks have over 40,000 muscles.

5.

Which sentence shows a possessive noun being used correctly?

[ ]	The pirates took control of the beach.
[ ]	The pirate stood on the beach.
[x]	The pirate's spy glass had broken.
[ ]	Pirates' like food.

The pirate flag with a white skull and black background is called The Jolly Roger flag and was designed to scare people.

6.

Which of these is the shorter way of saying: The castle belongs to the knight?

[ ]	The knights castle.
[x]	The knight's castle.
[ ]	The castle that belongs to the knight.
[ ]	The castle is owned by and belonging to the knight.

Knights used to live by a code of chivalry and nowadays, if someone calls you chivalrous it means you are well mannered.

7.

Which of these sentences is perfect?

[ ]	The dogs treat was delicious.
[ ]	The dog's treat's was delicious.
[ ]	The dog's treat was delicious'.
[x]	The dog's treat was delicious.

Only the dog is owning something in this sentence.

8.

Which sentence is perfect?

[ ]	The soldier's hat was wrong, he realised he took his brothers hat by mistake.
[x]	The soldier's hat was wrong, he realised he took his brother's hat by mistake.
[ ]	The soldiers hat was wrong, he realised he took his brother's hat by mistake.
[ ]	The soldiers hat was wrong, he realised he took his brothers hat by mistake.

There were two apostrophes needed in this one sentence as the solider has the wrong hat in his belongings and the brother also owns the hat.

9.

Which sentence is perfect?

[ ]	The bride's dress was stunning, all the guest's enjoyed the wedding and the groom's suit looked very smart.
[ ]	The bride's dress was stunning, all the guests enjoyed the wedding and the grooms suit looked very smart.
[ ]	The brides dress was stunning, all the guests enjoyed the wedding and the groom's suit looked very smart.
[x]	The bride's dress was stunning, all the guests enjoyed the wedding and the groom's suit looked very smart.

The word 'guests' doesn't need an apostrophe because they aren't owning anything - there is nothing for them to have. When looking at possessive apostrophes, we need to concentrate on the second word to make sure it's something that can be owned.

10.

Which sentence is perfect?

[ ]	The bird's feathers were brightly coloured. The girls' hand was shaking when she held him.
[x]	The bird's feathers were brightly coloured. The girl's hand was shaking when she held him.
[ ]	The bird's feathers were brightly coloured. The girls hand was shaking when she held him.
[ ]	The birds feathers were brightly coloured. The girls hand was shaking when she held him.

There are around 10,000 different species of birds worldwide