APOSTROPHES

 To show possession (ownership)  To show the omission (deletion) of letters APOSTROPHES HAVE TWO MAIN USES:

 To show that something belongs to a singular noun, add ‘s to the owner POSSESSION

 The hat that belongs to the boy = the boy’s hat  The hat that belongs to James = James’s hat POSSESSION

 To show that something belongs to a plural noun  add ‘s to the owner if the noun does not end in –s  add ‘ to the owner if the noun does end in –s POSSESSION

 The game of the children = the children’s game  The toys that belong to the two cats = the cats’ toys POSSESSION

 To show ownership by a compound noun (more than one noun), add ‘s to the end of the last owner listed. POSSESSION

 The apartment that belongs to Tim and Anne = Tim and Anne’s apartment POSSESSION

 Use an apostrophe in a contraction to stand in for the missing letter(s).  The apostrophe goes in the same place the missing letter(s) would be. OMISSION OF LETTERS

 do not = don’t  I am = I’m  he will = he’ll  who is = who’s  should not = shouldn’t  did not = didn’t  could have = could’ve OMISSION OF LETTERS