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Questions and Answers
Which of the following sentences correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession for a singular noun?
Which of the following sentences correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession for a singular noun?
- The cat's eyes gleamed in the dark. (correct)
- The students pencils were neatly arranged.
- The dogs' bone was buried in the backyard.
- The childrens' toys were scattered around the room.
Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to indicate a contraction?
Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to indicate a contraction?
- Theyre going to the beach tomorrow. (correct)
- Whose going to drive?
- Its a beautiful day for a picnic.
- Your going to love this movie.
In which sentence is the apostrophe used correctly to indicate possession for a plural noun ending in 's'?
In which sentence is the apostrophe used correctly to indicate possession for a plural noun ending in 's'?
- The cats' food bowl was empty.
- The teachers's lounge is a quiet place.
- The girls' soccer team won the championship. (correct)
- The boys's bikes were lined up outside.
Which of the following sentences demonstrates the correct use of an apostrophe in a compound possessive where the possession is collective?
Which of the following sentences demonstrates the correct use of an apostrophe in a compound possessive where the possession is collective?
Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to form the plural of a letter or number?
Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to form the plural of a letter or number?
Select the correctly punctuated sentence:
Select the correctly punctuated sentence:
Choose the sentence that correctly shows a possessive indefinite pronoun:
Choose the sentence that correctly shows a possessive indefinite pronoun:
Which of the following options correctly uses an apostrophe to show omission in a year?
Which of the following options correctly uses an apostrophe to show omission in a year?
In which sentence is the apostrophe used incorrectly?
In which sentence is the apostrophe used incorrectly?
Which sentence correctly uses apostrophes to show possession?
Which sentence correctly uses apostrophes to show possession?
Identify the sentence where the apostrophe is correctly used for a plural possessive.
Identify the sentence where the apostrophe is correctly used for a plural possessive.
Choose the sentence with the correct use of an apostrophe in a contraction.
Choose the sentence with the correct use of an apostrophe in a contraction.
Determine the sentence with correct use of apostrophes for both contraction and possessive.
Determine the sentence with correct use of apostrophes for both contraction and possessive.
Which sentence accurately uses an apostrophe to create a possessive for a plural noun that does not end in 's'?
Which sentence accurately uses an apostrophe to create a possessive for a plural noun that does not end in 's'?
In which sentence is the apostrophe correctly used to indicate a possessive inanimate object?
In which sentence is the apostrophe correctly used to indicate a possessive inanimate object?
Which option demonstrates proper use of apostrophes in forming plurals of numbers or abbreviations?
Which option demonstrates proper use of apostrophes in forming plurals of numbers or abbreviations?
Where is the apostrophe correctly placed to indicate joint possession?
Where is the apostrophe correctly placed to indicate joint possession?
Where is the apostrophe correctly placed to indicate individual possession?
Where is the apostrophe correctly placed to indicate individual possession?
Choose the sentences that demonstrate correct apostrophe usage for singular nouns ending in S.
Choose the sentences that demonstrate correct apostrophe usage for singular nouns ending in S.
What is the role of the apostrophe in the sentence, 'The class of '24 will celebrate its centennial soon.'?
What is the role of the apostrophe in the sentence, 'The class of '24 will celebrate its centennial soon.'?
Flashcards
What is an apostrophe?
What is an apostrophe?
An apostrophe has four main roles: creating possessive nouns, possessive indefinite pronouns, contractions, and forming plurals of letters and numbers.
Possessive singular nouns
Possessive singular nouns
Use 's to show possession for singular nouns.
Possessive Plural Nouns ending in 's'
Possessive Plural Nouns ending in 's'
Add only an apostrophe after the s to make it possessive
Plural nouns not ending in 's'
Plural nouns not ending in 's'
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Compound possessives
Compound possessives
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Omission of letters
Omission of letters
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Omission of numbers
Omission of numbers
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Plural and possessive years
Plural and possessive years
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Study Notes
What is an Apostrophe
- Four main roles:
- Creating possessive nouns (both singular and plural)
- Creating possessive Indefinite Pronouns
- Representing omitted letters in a word (a contraction)
- Forming plurals of letters and numbers
Creating Possessive Nouns
- Apostrophes are always used with possessive nouns
- Use an apostrophe + S ('s) to a singular noun to show possession
Adding apostrophes to Plural Nouns
- Add only an apostrophe to a plural noun to make it possessive
- Add an apostrophe + S ('s) to the plural nouns that do not end in s (i.e. men, women, children, people)
Creating Possessive Indefinite Pronouns
- Indefinite pronouns are nonspecific individuals or groups, and they are singular
- Examples:
- Each student's grade was marked on his or her paper
- Anyone's car would be suitable
- One's perspective on life changes with age
- Someone left his or her shampoo in the locker room
- Everyone's final vote reflected his or her political beliefs
Using Apostrophes for Compound Possessives
- In compound possessives, only the final name takes the possessive form
- This applies only when the possession is truly collective
Clarification 1
- If the possessive noun is an inanimate object then no apostrophe is needed
- If it is an adjective modifying the noun then no apostrophe is needed
- Examples of an adjective modifying the noun:
- "hotel" in "We are at the hotel room" is modifying the noun "room"
- "car" in "Close the door of the car" is modifying the noun "door"
- Subjects can show possession with apostrophes
- Examples of subjects showing possession with apostrophes:
- The "week" owns the "profits" when saying, "Last week's profits", therefore requiring an apostrophe
- The "news" is owned by "Tuesday" when saying, "Tuesday's news", requiring a possessive apostrophe
- The "capital" belongs to "England" when saying, "England's London Capital", so it requires a possessive apostrophe
Clarification 2
- If the word ending in s is singular, add the apostrophe +s if the additional syllable is not awkward (or has multiple syllables)
- If pronouncing an additional syllable for the singular word sounds awkward, add just the apostrophe and NOT the additional -s
Creating Contractions
- Apostrophes are used to show any omission of letters in a word
- Apostrophes are also used to form contractions
- A contraction is a combination of two words, which result in a single word
- The apostrophe is used where letters have been omitted
Use an Apostrophe for Omissions
- Use an apostrophe to show where a number or numbers have been left out
- Examples:
- Spirit of '76 (1776)
- Class of '16 (2016)
- Gold Rush of '49 (1849)
Use an Apostrophe for Plurals of Letters and Numbers
- Years used as a plural (but not possessive) do not need an apostrophe
- Plural and possessive years do need an apostrophe
- Numbers and symbols used as plurals (but not possessives) do not need an apostrophe
- Acronyms do not need an apostrophe unless possessive
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