USING APOSTROPHES CONTRACTIONS AND POSSESSIVES: How to Hit the Target Every Time! 

Why Bother? We awoke to the smell of grandmother’s cooking. We awoke to the smell of grandmothers cooking.

Using Apostrophes There are two uses for apostrophes. 1. To form contractions. do + not = don’t 2. To show possession or ownership. Jean’s essay was good. ’

1. Forming Contractions I + am = I’m could + not = couldn’t REMEMBER: The apostrophe marks the location of the missing letter! Don’t put it in the wrong place! could’nt couldn’t right! wrong

Contractions and Formal Writing Do not use contractions in formal writing. Always write the words out. Informal: Experts don’t agree on why people can’t seem to stick to their diets. Formal: Experts do not agree on why people cannot seem to stick to their diets.

2a. Showing Possession Singular the hat belonging to the girl = the girl’s hat the coat belonging to the boy = the boy’s coat the title belonging to the book = the book’s title REMEMBER: You need to add both the apostrophe ' and the s

Tip! Even when a singular noun already ends in -s, you must still add an apostrophe and an -s to form the possessive. The class’s test scores were high. Oscar Lewis’s article was interesting, but I disagree with much of what he said.

Singular Possessive Lincoln Universities mascot is the lion. Lincoln University’s mascot is the lion. My next clients appointment is at 1:00. My next client’s appointment is at 1:00.

2b. Showing Possession Plural Form the possessive of plural nouns, including plural names, by adding just an apostrophe. No additional -s is needed after the apostrophe, because the plural noun already ends in an -s. The five dogs’ water dishes were all empty. The Stengles’ car is a Subaru.

Plural Possessive All three agencies directors are coming. All three agencies’ directors are coming. Those students excuses are unbelievable. Those students’ excuses are unbelievable.

Here’s the Common Mistake!! Don’t make a word possessive when it really is just a plain old plural. The students’ did well. The students’ success was well deserved. X possessive plain old plural

Another Tip! You don’t always need an apostrophe to show possession. Personal pronouns do NOT use apostrophes to show possession, only to make contractions. The dog wagged its tail. (“its” is a personal pronoun meaning “belonging to it”) It’s really happy today. (“it’s” is a contraction for “it is”)

Personal Pronouns Let’s practice! Whose on first base? Who’s on first base? Their presentation was the best. They’re presentation was the best.

Using Apostrophes That’s all there is to know about apostrophes, so we have come to…

…the Lessons End …oops, I meant… THE LESSON’S END!