Using Apostrophes Why are apostrophes important? Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns Possessive personal pronouns Indefinite pronouns Contractions Plurals Review A Review B

The main job of the apostrophe is to show ownership—or possession. Why are apostrophes important? The apostrophe has several jobs to do. Is this Harry ’ s jacket? Are these the dog ’ s treats?

The apostrophe also shows where letters are missing in contractions. Sometimes, in special situations, the apostrophe is used to form plurals. Why are apostrophes important? you will you ’ ll His o ’ s look like a ’ s.

Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive case of most singular nouns.possessive case Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns Singular nouns the squirrel ’s tail the boy ’s teddy bear Tess ’s phone

The possessive case of a noun or pronoun shows ownership or possession. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns Are those Fran’s books sitting on your desk? Fran owns the books. You own the desk.

If a proper name ends in s, add only an apostrophe if adding another s would make the name awkward to say. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns Hercules’ tasks Ms. Rodgers’ cat These would be hard to pronounce if an s were added.

To form the possessive case of a plural noun ending in s, just add an apostrophe. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns Plural nouns the elephants’ trunks the Carsons’ kitchen

Some irregular plural nouns do not end in s. Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive case. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns Plural nouns woman womenwomen’s teeth’steethtooth Plural Possessive Plural Singular

Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. 1.Is that one of Lindas paintings? 2.Where is the cats food dish? 3.The director handed out the actors scripts. 4.That store has a large selection of womens shoes. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns

1.Is that one of Linda ’ s paintings? The possessive case of the singular noun Linda is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s. Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns

2.Where is the cat ’ s food dish? Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns The possessive case of the singular noun cat is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.

3.The director handed out the actors ’ scripts. The possessive case of the plural noun actors is formed by adding an apostrophe after the s. Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns

4.That store has a large selection of women ’ s shoes. The possessive case of the irregular plural noun women is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s. Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns

For each sentence, write the possessive case of the word in parentheses. 1. __________ twin sisters both play soccer. (Jeff) 2.The _________ cage was left open. (birds) 3.The __________ sails were torn and dirty. (boat) 4.We could see the _________ tracks in the snow. (mice) 5.Is that the __________ dog over by the tree? (Smiths) On Your Own Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns

For each sentence, write the possessive case of the word in parentheses. 1. __________ twin sisters both play soccer. (Jeff) 2.The _________ cage was left open. (birds) 3.The __________ sails were torn and dirty. (boat) 4.We could see the _________ tracks in the snow. (mice) 5.Is that the __________ dog over by the tree? (Smiths) Answers Jeff’s birds’ boat’s mice’s Smiths’ Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns

A possessive personal pronoun never has an apostrophe—even when the pronoun ends in s. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns Where is your backpack? Sherry lost hers yesterday. My backpack is in my locker.

Don’t confuse the possessive pronoun its with the contraction it’s. Give the dog its bone. It’s time to go. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns contraction of “it is” belonging to it

Possessive case Indefinite pronouns In the possessive case, indefinite pronouns need an apostrophe and an s.indefinite pronouns I found someone ’ s soccer ball. Is anyone ’ s uniform still clean?

Possessive case Indefinite pronouns An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, a place, a thing, or an idea that may or may not be specifically named. alleachmostone anothereithermuchother anyeveryoneneitherseveral anybodyeverythingnobodysome anyonefewnonesomebody anythingmanyno onesomething

Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1.Henry and I had our picture taken together. 2.Someones umbrella is getting water all over the floor. 4.Is that basketball yours? Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns and indefinite pronouns 3.Was anybodys house damaged by the flood?

Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns and indefinite pronouns 1.Henry and I had our picture taken together. C Possessive personal pronouns such as our do not have apostrophes.

2.Someone ’ s umbrella is getting water all over the floor. The possessive case of indefinite pronouns is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s. Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns and indefinite pronouns

3.Was anybody ’ s house damaged by the flood? Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns and indefinite pronouns The possessive case of indefinite pronouns is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.

4.Is that basketball yours? Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns and indefinite pronouns C Possessive personal pronouns such as yours do not have apostrophes.

Possessive case For each sentence, write the possessive case of the word in parentheses. 1. _____________ project must be finished by Wednesday. (Everybody) 2.Can we meet at __________ house tomorrow after school? (you) 3.Helen found __________ sunglasses in the locker room. (somebody) 4.Ray rode __________ new bike all day long. (him) On Your Own [End of Section]

For each sentence, write the possessive case of the word in parentheses. 1. _____________ project must be finished by Wednesday. (Everybody) 2.Can we meet at __________ house tomorrow after school? (you) 3.Helen found __________ sunglasses in the locker room. (somebody) 4.Ray rode __________ new bike all day long. (him) Answers Possessive case Everybody’s your his somebody’s

An apostrophe shows where letters, words, or numerals have been left out in a contraction. Contractions let us let’s they have o’clock they’ve of the clock 1999’99 here ishere’s

Contractions The word not can be shortened to n’t and added to a verb. The spelling of the verb usually doesn’t change. The two exceptions to this rule are [End of Section] are not could not aren’t couldn’t will not cannot won’t can’t

Do not confuse contractions with possessive pronouns. Contractions Possessive Pronouns It’s (It is) raining.Its tires are flat. Who’s (Who is) your coach? Whose watch is this? You’re (You are) welcome. Your sister is here. They’re (They are) late. Their team won.

Plurals To prevent confusion, use an apostrophe to form the plurals of certain types of nouns. Letters The word hidden has two d ’ s. Numerals Your 1 ’ s and 7 ’ s look alike. Symbols Write $ ’ s before all the amounts. Words referred to as words She uses too many so ’ s and and ’ s in her writing.

Some writers do not use apostrophes to form the plurals of letters, numerals, and symbols. However, it is best to use the apostrophe to make sure your meaning is clear. Plurals Try to write your as more clearly. Try to write your a’s more clearly. Some readers might read this word as “as.”

Contractions and plurals Add apostrophes where they are needed in the following sentences. 1.The word vacuum has two us. 2.Hes always forgetting to dot his is. 3.Those numbers look like 2s, but theyre 3s. 4.Id gladly go next, but its really your turn.

Contractions and plurals Use an apostrophe and an s to form the plural of a letter, such as u. Add apostrophes where they are needed in the following sentences. 1.The word vacuum has two u ’ s.

Contractions and plurals Add apostrophes where they are needed in the following sentences. 2.He ’ s always forgetting to dot his i ’ s. He’s is the contraction for He is. Use an apostrophe to show where letters are missing in contractions. Use an apostrophe and an s to form the plural of a letter, such as i.

Contractions and plurals Use an apostrophe and an s to form the plural of a number, such as 2 or 3. They’re is the contraction for They are. Use an apostrophe to show where letters are missing in contractions. Add apostrophes where they are needed in the following sentences. 3.Those numbers look like 2 ’ s, but they ’ re 3 ’ s.

Contractions and plurals I’d is the contraction for I would, and it’s is the contraction for it is. Use an apostrophe to show where letters are missing in contractions. Your is a possessive pronoun. Do not use apostrophes in possessive pronouns. 4.I ’ d gladly go next, but it ’ s really your turn. Add apostrophes where they are needed in the following sentences.

Contractions and plurals [End of Section] For each sentence, supply the correct form as indicated in parentheses. 1. How many ________ are in the word Mississippi? (plural of the letter p) 2.Your essay contains too many ________. (plural of the word very) 3.I was going to go for a walk, but ________ snowing right now. (contraction of it is) 4.Jamal ________ go to the movies with us. (contraction of did not) On Your Own

For each sentence, supply the correct form as indicated in parentheses. 1. How many ________ are in the word Mississippi? (plural of the letter p) 2.Your essay contains too many ________. (plural of the word very) 3.I was going to go for a walk, but ________ snowing right now. (contraction of it is) 4.Jamal ________ go to the movies with us. (contraction of did not) Answers Contractions and plurals p’sp’s very ’ s didn’t it’s

Review A [End of Section] In the following sentences, circle any words that need apostrophes or have incorrect apostrophes. 1. Kim wasnt sure whos hat it was. 2. That trees trunk is at least two feet thick. 3. Is the vase on the table their’s or our’s? 4. The monkeys tail was wrapped around a branch. 5. The Patterson’s yard looks beautiful, doesnt it? 6. Im going to feed their’ cat over the weekend.

In the following sentences, circle any words that need apostrophes or have incorrect apostrophes. 1. Kim wasnt sure whos hat it was. 2. That trees trunk is at least two feet thick. 3. Is the vase on the table their’s or our’s? 4. The monkeys tail was wrapped around a branch. 5. The Patterson’s yard looks beautiful, doesnt it? 6. Im going to feed their’ cat over the weekend. Review A

Review B [End of Section] Add apostrophes as needed in the following sentences. 1.Please dont use &s in your essays for school. 2.Jane cant fix his bike tonight; she has to fix hers first. 3.Everyones face lit up when our team made a goal. 4.Meet us at Randys house, and well help you study. 5.Doesnt Mr. Serrano usually pack the girls lunches? 6.Dad told me to stop giving him maybes as answers.

1.Please don ’ t use & ’ s in your essays for school. 2.Jane can ’ t fix his bike tonight; she has to fix hers first. 3.Everyone ’ s face lit up when our team made a goal. 4.Meet us at Randy ’ s house, and we ’ ll help you study. 5.Doesn ’ t Mr. Serrano usually pack the girls ’ lunches? Review B Add apostrophes as needed in the following sentences. 6.Dad told me to stop giving him maybe ’ s as answers.

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