1. Using the Apostrophe - Possession
St. Joseph's College English

2. St. Joseph's College English
Lesson Aims
By the end of class today:
- we will learn about the two types of apostrophe
- we will know how to use the apostrophe!
St. Joseph's College English

3. Possessive Apostrophe
1st type of apostrophe – the possessive apostrophe
Possessive means ‘belonging to someone or belonging to something’
St. Joseph's College English

4. Write out the following, putting in all the apostrophes required:
A hen is only an eggs way of making other eggs.
‘Why do demons and ghouls get along so well? Because demons are a ghouls best friend!’
Because of the two companies merger, each companys employees have had to be issued with a new employers contract.
St. Joseph's College English

5. The apostrophe to tell who is the owner!
The apostrophe is used to show that something belongs to someone or something:
The bird (its) song
The bird’s song.
St. Joseph's College English

6. Where does the apostrophe go?
Ask yourself ‘Who is the owner?’ and put the apostrophe after the last letter of the owner’s name. If only one person owns something use ‘s
‘Where is Hadrian’s wall?’
‘Please Miss, on the side of Hadrian’s house.’
The dog is under Peter’s fence.
It is Jane’s book.
St. Joseph's College English

7. St. Joseph's College English
If more than one person owns something, add the apostrophe after the s:
‘Mum there’s a man at the door collecting for the old folks’ home.’
‘Well, give him your grandfather.’
I stole the girls’ books. [more than one girl had her book stolen!]
The lights are off in all of my neighbours’ yards.
St. Joseph's College English

8. If two or more named people own something, use ‘s after the last person only:
Mary and Jim’s new car is a Volkswagen.
St. Joseph's College English

9. If the plural word of the owner does not end in s, use apostrophe s:
Women’s guesses are much more accurate than men’s certainties.
St. Joseph's College English

10. St. Joseph's College English
If a person’s name or profession already ends in s, use a second s only if you would sound it when speaking:
‘Boss the actress Catherine Zeta Jones’ leg was broken in a car accident!’
‘O.K. Take down this headline: “Actress’s broken leg hits box office!”’
St. Joseph's College English

11. St. Joseph's College English
You need an apostrophe for ownership even when there are no people or animals:
Monday’s child is fair of face. (Monday (its) child)
The man who is everybody’s friend is nobody’s. (Nobody his friend= nobody’s friend, because nobody has ownership).
St. Joseph's College English

12. Note the placing of the apostrophe in words ending in ‘y’ and ‘ies’:
Try to reduce an enemy’s hatred, before it spreads to enemies’ hatreds.
St. Joseph's College English

13. But don’t put apostrophes in everytime you see an s!
Nowadays we see ‘s all the time
Most of the time it is used incorrectly!
Some incorrect examples I saw recently were:
Apple’s and Pear’s for one euro
Guest room’s
The girl’s are sick today
St. Joseph's College English

14. St. Joseph's College English
What was wrong?
In all three cases there was no need for an apostrophe
There was no possession, and no words joined together
The three examples were only plural words
Plural words do not need an apostrophe
Or is it, plural words’ do not need an apostrophe?
St. Joseph's College English

15. St. Joseph's College English
Correct Way
Plural words do not need an apostrophe
The girls are sick today
Apples and pears only one euro.
Guest rooms
St. Joseph's College English

16. St. Joseph's College English
Check your answers!!!
A hen is only an egg’s way of making other eggs.
‘Why do demons and ghouls get along so well? Because demons are a ghoul’s best friend!’
Because of the two companies’ merger, each company’s employees have had to be issued with a new employer’s contract.
St. Joseph's College English

17. St. Joseph's College English
Now try this one:
During our drama groups regular visits to an open prison, the prisoners heckling was a challenge to the actors self-control. On one occasion it was completely shattered.
‘But, Mum,’ ran the line, ‘I am innocent!’
Back came the chorus of two hundred voices: ‘So was I mate!’
St. Joseph's College English

18. St. Joseph's College English
Were you correct?
During our drama group’s regular visits to an open prison, the prisoners’ heckling was a challenge to the actors’ self-control. On one occasion it was completely shattered.
‘But, Mum,’ ran the line, ‘I am innocent!’
Back came the chorus of two hundred voices: ‘So was I mate!’
St. Joseph's College English

19. St. Joseph's College English
Test Yourself
How did Daniels bike break?
Jans sister is going skiing this weekend.
Tommys aim was to finish all his homework on time.
. My sisters scarf blew away in the wind.
I want to borrow Mikes bike.
The lions were asleep when we went on the safari tour.
Mr hickeys classes are always such fun.
St. Joseph's College English

20. 2nd Type of Apostrophe – Contraction
This is when two words are joined together and a letter is left out
Contraction means ‘to make smaller’
St. Joseph's College English

21. Contractions
An apostrophe is used to show that letters are missing when two words have been put together.
e.g. Does not
Are not
Doesn’t
Aren’t 21

22. St. Joseph's College English
Omission
The apostrophe is used when letters are omitted (left out) from a word or words. The apostrophe always goes in the place where letters are missing. For example:
have not
becomes
haven’t
because the ‘o’ is omitted
St. Joseph's College English

23. St. Joseph's College English
For example
He’s
There’s
You’re
It’s
Isn’t
Haven’t
Can’t
Won’t
St. Joseph's College English

24. Task 1 – Put in apostrophes
1. She doesnt even care if shes late.
2. it isnt that youre a dull person; its just that you havent anything to say
3. were going too be late for school if you dont hurry up.
4. theres no point if they arent going back to there house
5. youre dog is sick of the food youve been given it.
St. Joseph's College English

25. Task 1 – Put in apostrophes
1. She doesn’t even care if she’s late.
2. It isn’t that you’re a dull person; it’s just that you haven’t anything to say.
3. We’re going too be late for school if you don’t hurry up.
4. There’s no point if they aren’t going back to their house
5. Your dog is sick of the food you’ve been giving it.
St. Joseph's College English

26. St. Joseph's College English
Task 2
Johns girlfriend didn’t see much of him for several Saturdays while he was listening to this salesmans sales pitch and looking at that dealers display. Meanwhile, his girlfriend had started going out with an old friend of hers and Johns. She always has plenty of bags with her when she leaves her apartment. On Saturday nights she cant fit these into John’s car. She says she doesnt care but sometimes she gets upset if it isnt there.
St. Joseph's College English