English · Write-on and tick worksheet
Apostrophes for Possession: Free KS2 Worksheet (Years 3 to 4)
The possessive apostrophe is one of the trickiest pieces of punctuation children meet in Lower Key Stage 2, partly because it looks identical to the apostrophe used in contractions and sits right next to the plural -s they already know. This free printable gives Years 3 and 4 focused, low-pressure practice in showing that something belongs to someone or something.
The worksheet pairs a colour-in picture of a dog with its bone with two short written tasks. Children rewrite phrases using an apostrophe and then decide whether each example shows possession or is simply a plural. An answer guide is included for parents and teachers.
Apostrophes for Possession
Free English worksheet · Ages 8 to 9
Add the possessive apostrophe
Rewrite each phrase using a possessive apostrophe to show who the thing belongs to. The first one is done as an example in the answer guide.
the bone belonging to the dog
the kennel belonging to the dog
the lead belonging to Anya
the toys belonging to the children
the bowls belonging to the dogs
the coats belonging to the men
Possession or just a plural?
Tick only the phrases that correctly need a possessive apostrophe because something belongs to the noun. Leave the simple plurals blank.
- the cat's whiskers
- three happy dogs
- the teacher's desk
- lots of bones
- the babies' rattles
- two kennels in the garden
Apostrophes for Possessionowee.worldAnswer key
- the bone belonging to the dog — the dog's bone
- the kennel belonging to the dog — the dog's kennel
- the lead belonging to Anya — Anya's lead
- the toys belonging to the children — the children's toys
- the bowls belonging to the dogs — the dogs' bowls
- the coats belonging to the men — the men's coats
- the cat's whiskers — tick
- the teacher's desk — tick
- the babies' rattles — tick
What the possessive apostrophe does
The possessive apostrophe shows that something belongs to a person, animal or thing. With a singular noun, we add an apostrophe and then an s: the dog's bone means the bone belonging to the dog. This is the rule most Year 3 and 4 children meet first, and it covers the vast majority of everyday examples, including names such as Anya's coat or James's book. Encouraging children to read the phrase as 'belonging to' helps them check whether an apostrophe is really needed.
Singular versus plural possession
The placement of the apostrophe changes once a noun is made plural. For a regular plural that already ends in s, the apostrophe goes after the s with no extra letter: the girls' shoes means the shoes belonging to more than one girl. For irregular plurals that do not end in s, such as children, men or people, we add an apostrophe and then an s in the usual way: the children's toys. This distinction is the specific focus of the Year 4 curriculum, so it is worth practising deliberately.
Telling possession apart from plurals
The most common error at this stage is adding an apostrophe to an ordinary plural, for example writing three dog's when no apostrophe is needed because nothing belongs to the dogs. A reliable check is to ask whether the noun owns anything that follows it. If the answer is no, it is simply a plural and needs no apostrophe. This worksheet builds in a tick task precisely so children can rehearse making that decision, which is the heart of the objective.
How to support learning at home or in class
Short, frequent bursts work better than long sessions for punctuation. Try spotting possessive apostrophes on packaging, signs and book titles, and ask the child to explain who or what owns the item. When marking, focus first on whether the apostrophe is needed at all, then on its position. Reading sentences aloud also helps, because the apostrophe does not change how a word sounds, which reminds children it is a written signal of meaning rather than a pronunciation guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the apostrophe go for a singular noun?
For a singular noun you add an apostrophe and then an s, as in 'the dog's bone'. This shows that the bone belongs to one dog. The same pattern works for names, such as 'Sam's bag'.
How do you show possession with plural nouns?
If the plural already ends in s, the apostrophe goes after the s with no extra letter, as in 'the dogs' bones'. If the plural is irregular and does not end in s, such as 'children' or 'men', you add an apostrophe and then an s, as in 'the children's toys'.
How can a child tell a possessive apostrophe from a plural?
Ask whether the noun owns something that comes after it. In 'the cat's toy' the toy belongs to the cat, so an apostrophe is needed. In 'two cats sat down' nothing is owned, so it is just a plural and needs no apostrophe.
Is this worksheet suitable for Year 3 as well as Year 4?
Yes. Plural possession is a specific Year 4 objective, but the worksheet also revisits singular possession introduced earlier, so it works well for Year 3 children who are ready to extend their understanding.
Is the worksheet free and printable?
Yes. The worksheet is completely free, prints onto a single A4 page and includes a colour-in illustration. Answers are provided for the adult so it can be marked quickly at home or in class.
Curriculum links
- English Appendix 2 (Year 4): indicating possession by using the possessive apostrophe with plural nouns.
- English Appendix 2 (Year 3 and 4 terminology): pupils should understand and use the term 'possessive apostrophe'.
- English Appendix 2 (Year 2): the apostrophe for singular possession in nouns, for example 'the girl's name', revisited and consolidated.
- Years 3 and 4 writing composition: proof-reading for spelling and punctuation errors, including apostrophes.
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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