Why do we use apostrophes? It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Why do we use apostrophes? 1-2-3! 1.)To form possessives of nouns (who owns it) 2.)To show the omission of letter (to leave letters out-contraction) 3.)To indicate certain plurals of lowercase letters

#1-To form possessives of nouns Step 1: To see if you need to make a possessive, turn the phrase around and make it an “ of the” phrase. Example: The boy’s hat = the hat of the boy Three days’ journey = the journey of three days

There’s always the exception!  If the noun after “of” is an object, a building, or a piece of furniture- then you do NOT need an apostrophe For Example: door of the car = car door Room of the hotel = hotel room

How do I add the apostrophe to make it possessive?  add 's to the singular form of the word (even if it ends in - s): Thomas’s scarf Thomas’s scarf James's hat James's hat  add 's to the plural forms that do not end in -s: the children's game the children's game the geese's honking the geese's honking  add 's to the last noun to show joint possession of an object: Todd and Anne's apartment Todd and Anne's apartment

Continued…  Add only and (‘) to the ends of plural words ending in –s that are possessive. The cats’ litter boxes The cats’ litter boxes The boys’ soccer teams The boys’ soccer teams The teachers’ classrooms The teachers’ classrooms  add 's to the end of compound words: my brother-in-law's money my brother-in-law's money

Let’s Practice! Add apostrophes and ‘s where needed: 1. leg of the table 2. Johnnys car 3. friends house 4. teachers desk 5. Curtis dog 6. five dogs yard

1. table leg 2. Johnny’s car 3. friend’s house 4. teacher’s desk 5. Curtis’s dog 6. five dogs’ yard

#2-Showing omission of letters  Apostrophes are used in contractions.  A contraction is a word (or set of numbers) in which one or more letters (or numbers) have been omitted. The apostrophe shows this omission. Contractions are common in speaking and in informal writing. To use an apostrophe to create a contraction, place an apostrophe where the omitted letter(s) would go.

Can you do it? How would you make these words contractions? 1. he will 2. cannot 3. will not 4. they will 5. they are 6. should not

Answers: 1. he’ll 2. can’t 3. won’t 4. they’ll 5. they’re 6. shouldn’t

 We do NOT use apostrophes when a noun is plural ONLY and showing no possession.  Examples: The girls went home after school. The girls went home after school. The Jones are gone for the weekend. The Jones are gone for the weekend. I plan on playing 3 sports this year. I plan on playing 3 sports this year. The teacher smiled at the students in the hall. The teacher smiled at the students in the hall. Plurals

1. This is the _________ football. boy

1. This is the boy’s football.

2. This is the ________ cake. girl

2. This is the girl’s cake.

3. This is the __________ school. children

3. This is the children’s school.

4. There are many ____________ in this picture. Basketballs

4. There are many basketballs in this picture.

5. This is ___________ basketball. Tracy

5. This is Tracy’s basketball.

6. The _________ are smiling. Kids

6. The kids are smiling.

7. The _________ smiles are big. Kids

7. The kids’ smiles are big.

8. The ________ house is scary.  The Adams

8. The Adams’ house is scary.

9. _____________ rides are fun! Frontier City

9. Frontier City’s rides are fun!

10. __________ saxophone is groovy. James

10. James’s saxophone is groovy.