1. Using Apostrophes: Contractions & Possessives Mrs. Davis’s & Ms. Hillman’s 5 th Grade Language Arts Classes

2. Apostrophes We use apostrophes for ONLY 2 reasons: POSSESSIVE NOUNS or CONTRACTIONS

3. Possessive Nouns Review A possessive noun is a person, place, or thing that possesses (owns) something: The kitten’ s performance was outstanding. ’ kitten ’ s = possessive noun (it owns something) performance = what the kitten owns The apostrophe lets the reader know it is a possessive noun instead of a plural.

4. Where the apostrophe is placed helps the reader determine if the possessive is singular or plural. If what comes BEFORE the apostrophe is SINGULAR, the possessive is SINGULAR: The kitten’s nap was peaceful. What comes BEFORE the apostrophe (KITTEN) is singular, so the possessive noun is singular. Possessive Nouns Review

5. If what comes BEFORE the apostrophe is PLURAL, the possessive is PLURAL: The kittens’ nap was peaceful. What comes BEFORE the apostrophe (KITTENS) is plural, so the possessive noun is plural.

6. Contractions To contract means to draw together. A contraction is two words drawn (pulled) together to make one word. Most (but not ALL) contractions are made with pronouns and helping verbs. An apostrophe is used in a contraction to show where letters have been removed.

7. Contractions she + is = she’s (pronoun) (helping verb) (contraction) When contracting she and is, what letter is removed? they + are = they’re (pronoun) (helping verb) (contraction) When contracting they and are, what letter is removed?

8. Learn how these helping verbs look when contracted: 1. have = ‘ve (you’ve) 2. has/is/was = ‘s (he’s) 3. had/did/could/should/would = ‘d (they’d) 4. am = ‘m (I’m) 5. are/were = ‘re (we’re) 6. will = ‘ll (she’ll)

9. Uncommon Contractions Sometimes in literature you will find common nouns contracted with helping verbs: The kitten will wear its costume tonight. How could we contract kitten and will? The kitten’ll wear its costume tonight.

10. Be Careful… Sometimes contractions and possessives look alike: 1. The kitten’s friend is fuzzy. 2. The kitten’s a fuzzy friend. Which one uses kitten’s as a contraction?

11. POP QUIZ Which sentence in each pair uses an apostrophe for a contraction? 1. The chair’s leg is broken. The chair’s broken. 2. My sister’s crying. My sister’s friend is crying. 3. The puppy’s learning to sit. The puppy’s training is not going well.

12. POP QUIZ Answers Which sentence in each pair uses an apostrophe for a contraction? 1. The chair’s leg is broken. The chair’s broken. 2. My sister’s crying. My sister’s friend is crying. 3. The puppy’s learning to sit this afternoon. The puppy’s training is not going well.

13. POP QUIZ (continued) Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly? 4. My brother’s are older than me. My brother’s a senior in high school. My brothers’ going to a dance. 5. The new students’ will attend a meeting. The new student’s name is Jerry. The new students’ going to be in our class.

14. POP QUIZ Answers Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly? 4. My brother’s are older than me. My brother’s a senior in high school. My brothers’ going to a dance. 5. The new students’ will attend a meeting. The new student’s name is Jerry. The new students’ going to be in our class.