This grammar Bingo game is a fun way to support pupils in Y4 to identify the difference between plurals and possessives. Pupils will identify whether sentences contain an example of a plural (eg cats) or is possessive (eg cat’s).
The game can be played as a class or in small groups and is perfect for adult led interventions to revisit key knowledge and skills.
This resource pack includes:
- Bingo caller cards
- 10 bingo cards
- Teacher’s notes
What is a plural?
Plurals, or the plural form (as opposed to the singular form), are words that show more than one of something.
In the English language this is most commonly done by adding the suffix ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ to words.
However there are also examples of irregular plurals, for example sheep, children or women.
What is an apostrophe?
Apostrophes have two different uses:
- Apostrophes for contraction: Showing the place of missing letters (eg I’m for I am)
- Apostrophes for possession: Marking possessives (eg Hannah’s mother)
Possessive apostrophe rules
When showing singular possession, ‘s is added to the end of the word.
The apostrophe is placed after the plural form the words; -s is not added if the plural already ends in -s (ie girls’), but is added if the plural does not end in -s (ie is an irregular plural – eg children’s)
Possessive apostrophe examples
Singular possessive apostrophe
- Megan’s book
- Ravi’s bag
- the girl’s hair
- the child’s toy
- the man’s smile
Plural possessive apostrophe
- girls’ school
- boys’ toilets
- babies’ clothes
- children’s games
- men’s ties
- mice’s tails
National Curriculum English programme of study links
- Pupils will understand the difference between plural and possessive -s