ENGLISH 122 INSTRUCTOR: KEENAN Apostrophe Review

Apostrophe Used to form the possessive Used to form contractions Can be used in abbreviations

Apostrophe Possession Rule 1 Singular words  If a word is singular and needs to show possession  Add –’s Examples: Bill Boughton’s skillful card tricks amaze children. Anyone’s eyes would widen. Most tricks will pique an adult’s curiosity too.

Apostrophe Possession Rule 1 Continued Exception—  An apostrophe alone may be added to a singular word ending in –s when another s would make the word difficult to say.  Moses’ mother  Joan Rivers’ jokes  But the added –s is never wrong  Moses’s Rivers

Apostrophe Possession Rule # 2 Plural words ending in –s  If a word is plural and ends in an –s  Add an –’ only Examples: Workers’ incomes have fallen slightly over the past year. Many students benefit from several years’ work after high school. The Jameses’ talents are extraordinary.

Apostrophe Possession Rule # 3 Plural words not ending in –s  If a word is plural but does not end in a s  Add –’s Examples Children’s educations are at stake. We need to attract the media’s attention.

Apostrophe Possession Rule #4 Compound words  If a word is compound  Add –’s only to the last word Examples The brother-in-law’s business failed. Taxes are always somebody else’s fault.

Apostrophe Possession Rule # 5 Two or more owners  If the possessive has two or more owners.  Add –’s depending on possession Individual Possession Zimbale’s and Mason’s comedy techniques are similar. (Each comedian has his own technique) Joint Possession The child recovered despite his mother and father’s neglect. (The mother and father were jointly neglectful.)

Revising The eastern coast of Belize was once a fishermans paradise, but overfishing caused the fishing industrys sharp decline in this Central American country. The countrys government is now showing the world that a leaders’ foresight can turn a problem into an opportunity. Belize is capitalizing on something that can capture tourists interest: whale sharks. Huge but harmless to people, whale sharks regularly visit Belizes coast to feed on smaller fishes eggs. The predictable gatherings of the shark’s attract large numbers of scuba diver’s and snorkeler’s, so that the fishs’ fascinating beauty has become an economic treasure. A tourist eagerness to spend money for an up-close view of whale sharks is Belizes renewable and reliable resource.

Apostrophe Misuse Plural nouns have an –s or –es added to the ending, but no apostrophe.  The Jones’ controlled the firm’s until  The Joneses controlled the firms until Singular verbs ending in –s never take an apostrophe.  The subway break’s down less often now.  The subway breaks down less often now. Possessives of personal pronouns  His, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs, and whose are possessive plurals. They do not take an apostrophe.

Apostrophe Contraction Rule A contraction replaces one or more letters, numbers, or words with an apostrophe, as in the following examples.  It’s (It is, It has)  They’re (They are)  You’re (You are)  Who’s (Who is, Who has)  Can’t (Cannot)  Doesn’t (Does not)  Weren’t (Were not)  Class of ‘12 (Class of 2012)

Common Mistakes ContractionPossessive It’s a bookIts cover is green. They’re coming.Their car broke down. You’re right.Your idea is good. Who’s coming?Whose party is it?

Revising People who’s online experiences include blogging, Web cams, and social-networking sites are often used to seeing the details of other peoples private lives. Many are also comfortable sharing they’re own opinions, photographs, and videos with family, friend’s, and even stranger’s. However, they need to realize that employers and even the government can see they’re information, too. Employers commonly put applicants names through social networking Web sites such as My Space and Facebook. Many companies monitor their employees outbound . People can take steps to protect their personal information by adjusting the privacy settings on their social-networking pages. They can avoid posting photos of themselves that they wouldnt want any employer to see. They can avoid sending personal while their at work. Its the individuals responsibility to keep certain information private.