AL Ws/L2.4 Use apostrophes & inverted commas

A powerpoint presentation showing incorrect use of the apostrophe and comma. Useful for discussions to show the correct use and for learners to say why the apostrophe is wrong. Has ‘its’ and ‘it’s’ and omissive and possessive apostrophes.

Editor’s note
Updated Sept 17. Errors corrected and minor layout changes.

A handout and exercise sheets for using direct and reported speech. Gives several example of each and the exercises work by switching the same message between direct and reported speech.

I have used this as a speaking/listing exercise as well as writing for grammar/punctuation. Target group is really L1 /L2 but can work well with high E3 too.

This resource uses a flow chart to help guide learners to the correct use of apostrophes.

Editor’s note
Updated Aug 2016. now includes irregular plurals such as ‘children’.

L1/2 factsheet and worksheet on bracketing and listing commas.
Useful for underpinning L1-2 Functional English writing skills.

A Powerpoint suitable for an end of lesson assessment. Includes omissive and possessive apostrophes.

L1/L2 resource adapted from comma quizzes in The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus. Nine slides of multiple choice questions. They are all in red, green, yellow or blue so that learners can throw beanbags into the corresponding hoops, or hold up corresponding cards etc. The choices are sometimes very tricky and this provokes a lot of discussion.

Two fun punctuation exercises for cat lovers.
Both are quite challenging. The first page requires full stops, capital letters and commas (E3-L1) whereas the second also includes quotation marks and apostrophes (L1-L2).

Another expertly adapted text with ten missing apostrophes. Includes apostrophes of omission and possession (some example are challenging).
Inspired by Rachel Emmett’s ‘Capello Gerrard World Cup apostrophes’ resources (see below).

Challenging L2 reading comprehension based on a 2008 BBC article about Philippe Petit’s 1972 high wire walk between the twin towers (written after Petit was interviewed on the Radio 4 Today programme). Tasks focus on summarising / re-wording, and punctuation (speech marks) but also include general comprehension and a short writing task. There is also an answer sheet ans useful links to online videos and trailers that can be used to introduce the task.

Clear handout explaining the basics of punctuating direct speech. Split into three sections: the speech marks, the remaining punctuation, and the use of a new paragraph / line for each new speaker.
Each section has an accompanying set of exercises.
Mapped to the Functional English criteria and adult literacy curriculum elements.