THE APOSTROPHE What the little do-hickey is really for

The APOSTROPHE is usually used for only TWO REASONS:  1. Use the apostrophe to join two words together in a contraction

No… not this kind!

THIS kind of contraction  Don’t = do + not  Won’t = will + not  Doesn’t = does + not  Aren’t = are + not  Joining two words together (the way we say it when we talk quickly) is a contraction

APOSTROPHES with Contractions Can always be avoided: just write out the words and don’t ( do not ) join them with an apostrophe!

The SECOND reason to use an apostrophe is…  2. POSSESSION !

Wait a minute… not this kind of POSSESSION!

This kind of possession means ownership

I borrowed my granny’s false teeth = whose false teeth? Granny’s Snooki’s baby will probably be as vulgar as she is. Whose baby? Snooki’s Whenever I go to Uncle Haha’s house, I always bring his favorite possum pie. Whose house? Uncle Haha’s

Uncle Haha eating possum pie:

The two reasons to use an APOSTROPHE In a CONTRACTION  Is + not = Isn’t To show OWNERSHIP  Larry’s new car is fast.

You try… Contraction or Ownership ?  Look at Aunt Bella’s big backside.  Isn’t Mimi pretty in that dress?  Sometimes my brother doesn’t stink.  Won’t you be my neighbor?  Try to catch the pig’s tail.  The city’s government banned rollerblading.

PAIR UP! Add apostrophes where (and when) needed  Im not saying shes a gold digger.  Lets start a riot.  The cats kittens have washed their mittens.  Sometimes when we touch, the agonys too much.

HOWEVER, There’s (there is) always that funky exception, right???

The apostrophe rule can look really weird if a word ends in “s”  Words that end in “s”  Thomas  The Jones family  Kitten’s= 1  Kittens’ = 2 +  Boy’s car  Three boys’ cars  To show that “s –ending” word with an apostrophe for ownership  Thomas’s engine  The Jones’s house (but all five Joneses )  The three kittens’ mittens ( but one kitten’s tail) The boys’ restroom (but one boy’s toy airplane)

Try it solo!