1. APOSTROPHES
GRADE 8 LANGUAGE ARTS

7. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
To form a possessive of singular and plural nouns. Add an apostrophe and a s to form the possessive of a singular noun.
Joe + ‘s= Joe’s car
Flag + ‘s= Flag’s colours

8. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
If a plural noun ends in s, just add an apostrophe.
Cars + ‘ = Cars’ interiors
Televisions + ‘ = Televisions’ location

9. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
If a plural noun does not end in s, add ‘s to the word.
Women + ‘s = Women’s department

10. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
To make a possessive of a compound word or the name of a co-owned business or organization, add ‘s to the last word of the name.
Brother-in-law’s shoes
Jackson and Meyer’s Law Firm

11. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
Use apostrophes in contractions (words that combine two words into one).
Had not = Hadn’t
I will = I’ll
You would = you’d

12. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
Form the plural of a lowercase letter by placing an ‘s after the letter.
There are three a’s in that word.
Mind your p’s and q’s.

13. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
Use an apostrophe to show where the letter(s) are left out in a word or number.
The class of ‘11 = The class of 2011.
Let’s = Let us.
Greg’s = Greg’s not feeling well.

14. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
Use an apostrophe after a single capital letter, or when single digit numbers are not spelled out.
I got straight A’s on this report card.
She received 2’s and 3’s on the survey.

15. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
Use an apostrophe to form the plural of an abbreviation that ends with a period.
B.A.’s = Bachelor of Arts
M.A.’s = Masters of Arts
P.A.’s = Physicians Assistants

16. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
Use an apostrophe to form the plural of an abbreviation that is not followed by a period.
How many CD’s do you own?

17. WHEN DO WE USE APOSTROPHES?
When two or more people possess the same thing, put an apostrophe after the second name only.
Susan and Jack’s dog.
George and Tom’s house.