1. Using Apostrophes Why are apostrophes important? Possessive case
Singular nouns and plural nouns
Possessive personal pronouns
Indefinite pronouns
Special problems with possessives
Contractions
Plurals
Review A
Review B

2. Why are apostrophes important?
The apostrophe has several jobs to do.
The main job of the apostrophe is to show ownership, or possession.
Are these Sondra’s socks?

3. Why are apostrophes important?
The apostrophe also shows where something is missing in a contraction.
we have
we’ve
Sometimes, in special situations, the apostrophe is used to form plurals.
Your 1’s look like l’s.

4. Why are apostrophes important?
A missing apostrophe can cause confusion.
Are those as or is?
Are those a’s or i’s?
An unnecessary apostrophe is also confusing.
It’s speed is impressive.
The computer’s are fast.
Knowing where to place an apostrophe—and why—will help make your writing clearer.
[End of Section]

5. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns
Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive case of most singular nouns.
a good night’s sleep
a good night of sleep
the beak of the duck
the duck’s beak
the little brother of Sam
Sam’s little brother

6. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns
The possessive case of a noun or pronoun is the form of the word that shows ownership or possession.
Use Ken’s calculations and record your results.
Ken has the calculations.
The results you have.

7. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns
For singular common nouns ending in s, add both an apostrophe and an s if the added s is pronounced as a separate syllable.
Grammar Guy Says...
class
the class’s teacher
dress
the dress’s sleeves

8. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns
If a plural noun ends in s, just add an apostrophe.
the ducks’ beaks
the Garzas’ car

9. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns
Some irregular plural nouns do not end in s. Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive case.
Singular
Plural
Plural Possessive
Example
child
children
children’s
children’s playground
man
men
men’s
men’s store

10. Possessive case Singular nouns and plural nouns
Proper names
If a proper name ends in s, add only an apostrophe if adding another s would make the name awkward to pronounce.
Ms. Rawlings’ class
Ulysses’ voyage

11. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns
A possessive personal pronoun never has an apostrophe—even when the pronoun ends in s.
I forgot where my locker is.
Mine is in the next hall.
Its number is 302.
Where is your locker?

12. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns
Most possessive personal pronouns have two forms.
Where is your lunch? Did you forget yours? my
mine
your
yours
his, her, its
his, hers, its
our
ours
their
theirs
These forms are used before nouns.
These forms stand alone.
Do not put an apostrophe in any of these pronouns.

13. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns
Be careful not to confuse possessive pronouns with contractions. Possessive pronouns never have apostrophes.
Grammar Guy Says...
Possessive pronoun
Contraction of you are
Your friend is busy.
You’re too busy.

14. Possessive case Possessive personal pronouns
These possessive pronouns and contractions are often confused because they sound alike.
Grammar Guy Says...
Possessive pronouns
Contractions
Whose bat is that?
Who’s at bat?
Listen to its meow.
It’s meowing.
That kite is theirs.
There’s a kite.
Their trees are tall.
They’re tall trees.

15. Possessive case
Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
1. Is the librarys elevator working today?
2. Here is your book, but where is hers?
3. The Jacksons cat wears a collar.
4. Some childrens books have great pictures.

16. Possessive case
Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
1. Is the library’s elevator working today?
The possessive case of the singular noun library is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.

17. Possessive case
Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
2. Here is your book, but where is hers? C
The possessive case of pronouns is formed without apostrophes.

18. Possessive case
Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
3. The Jacksons’ cat wears a collar.
The possessive case of the plural noun Jacksons is formed by adding an apostrophe after the s.

19. Possessive case
Identify the possessive words in these sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
4. Some children’s books have great pictures.
The possessive case of the irregular plural noun children is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.

20. Possessive case On Your Own
For each sentence, write the possessive case of the word in parentheses.
1. All the ___________ cages should be cleaned. (hamsters)
2. Are these car keys _________? (you)
3. The _________ crew wore uniforms. (ship)
4. _______________ class is on a field trip. (Mr. Clements)
5. The _________ voices sounded far away. (men)

21. Possessive case Answers
For each sentence, write the possessive case of the word in parentheses.
1. All the ___________ cage should be cleaned. (hamsters)
2. Are these car keys _________? (you)
3. The _________ crew wore uniforms. (ship)
4. _______________ class is on a field trip. (Mr. Clements)
5. The _________ voices sounded far away. (men)
hamsters’
yours
ship’s
Mr. Clements’
men’s

22. Possessive case Indefinite pronouns
In the possessive case, indefinite pronouns need an apostrophe and an s.
The teacher asked for everybody’s essay.
No one’s essay has been graded.

23. Possessive case Indefinite pronouns
An indefinite pronoun refers to one or more persons, places, or things that may or may not be specifically named.
all
each
most
one
another
either
much
other
any
everyone
neither
several
anybody
everything
nobody
some
anyone
few
none
somebody
anything
many
no one
something
both
more
nothing
such

24. Possessive case Indefinite pronouns
In casual speech, contractions formed using indefinite pronouns and is are very common. These contractions look and sound exactly like the possessive case of the pronouns.
Grammar Guy Says...
Contraction of someone is
Someone’s in the house!

25. Possessive case Indefinite pronouns
To determine whether the word is a contraction or the possessive case of an indefinite pronoun, try saying is instead of ‘s. If is makes sense, the word is a contraction.
Grammar Guy Says...
No one’s home yet.
No one is home yet.
In this sentence, No one’s is a contraction, not the possessive case.

26. Possessive case Special problems with possessives
Compound nouns
In compound nouns, only the last word is possessive in form.
the Gulf of Mexico’s currents
my brother-in-law’s job
the vice-president’s visit

27. Possessive case Special problems with possessives
A compound noun consists of two or more words that are used together as one noun. A compound noun may be
written as one word
firefighter
playwright
written as separate words
bowling alley
post office
hyphenated
hide-and-seek
president-elect

28. Possessive case Special problems with possessives
The names of organizations and businesses may be compound nouns, too.
Grammar Guy Says...
the Community College Fund’s scholarship
the American Red Cross’s swimming programs

29. Possessive case Special problems with possessives
Joint possession
When two or more nouns share possession, only the last noun is possessive in form.
Stephanie, Darla, and Jacob’s project
Three students are working on one project.

30. Possessive case Special problems with possessives
Joint possession
When one of the words showing joint possession is a pronoun, both words should be in the possessive form.
Her and Wanda’s project
Two students are working on one project.

31. Possessive case Special problems with possessives
Two or more persons possessing something individually
When two or more persons each possess something, each of their names should be in the possessive form.
Brent’s and Mia’s projects
Each student has his or her own project. The noun projects is plural.

32. Possessive case Special problems with possessives
When talking about things owned by two or more people, be sure to check your apostrophes when you change a noun to a pronoun.
John and Jenny’s dog
Two people own one dog together.
John’s and her dog
John’s and Jenny’s dogs
Two people each own dogs.
John’s and her dogs

33. Possessive case
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
1. That is really (nobody’s, nobodys’) business but my own.
2. Did (Carla’s and Nate’s, Carla and Nate’s) song win a prize?
3. You can share (Peggy’s and my, Peggy and my) tent on the camping trip.

34. Possessive case
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
1. That is really (nobody’s, nobodys’) business but my own.
The possessive case of an indefinite pronoun is formed by adding an apostrophe and s.

35. Possessive case
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
2. Did (Carla’s and Nate’s, Carla and Nate’s) song win a prize?
When two or more nouns possess one thing together (the song), only the last noun is in the possessive case.

36. Possessive case
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
3. You can share (Peggy’s and my, Peggy and my) tent on the camping trip.
When two or more persons possess one thing together, and one of words is a pronoun, both words are in the possessive case.

37. Possessive case On Your Own
For each sentence, write the possessive case of the word in parentheses.
1. Keeping the laboratory clean is _____________ responsibility. (everyone)
2. We will meet at ___________________ house tomorrow after school. (Michael and Junior)
3. Do you know what ______________________ mascot is? (Robstown High School)
4. I think ____________________ stories were the most interesting. (Stella and Stanley)
[End of Section]

38. Robstown High School’s Stella’s and Stanley’s
Possessive case
Answers
For each sentence, write the possessive case of the word in parentheses.
1. Keeping the laboratory clean is _____________ responsibility. (everyone)
2. We will meet at ___________________ house tomorrow after school. (Michael and Junior)
3. Do you know what ______________________ mascot is? (Robstown High School)
4. I think ____________________ stories were the most interesting. (Stella and Stanley)
everyone’s
Michael and Junior’s
Robstown High School’s
Stella’s and Stanley’s

39. Contractions
An apostrophe shows where letters, words, or numerals have been omitted from a contraction.
should not
shouldn’t
we have
we’ve
of the clock
o’clock
1998
’98
it is
’tis

40. Contractions
Usually, when the word not is shortened to n’t and added to a verb, the spelling of the verb doesn’t change.
would not
wouldn’t
have not
haven’t
The two exceptions to this rule are
will not
won’t
cannot
can’t
[End of Section]

41. I wish I had gotten A’s on my report card, but I got C’s.
Plurals
In most cases, do not use an apostrophe to form the plural of a noun.
house
houses
dress
dresses
To prevent confusion, a few kinds of nouns do form plurals by adding an apostrophe and an s.
lowercase letters
p’s and q’s
x’s
certain capital letters
A’s
I’s
U’s
I wish I had gotten A’s on my report card, but I got C’s.

42. Replace all the and’s with or’s.
Plurals
Also use an apostrophe to form the plural of
symbols
@’s
#’s
*’s
numerals
1’s
2’s
3’s
some words that are referred to as words
Replace all the and’s with or’s.

43. Grammar Guy Says... Plurals
Some writers do not use apostrophes to form the plurals of letters, numerals, and symbols. But the apostrophe may be needed to make your meaning clear, and adding it is never wrong.
Grammar Guy Says...
Are there two i’s in that word?
Are there two is in that word?
Some readers might read this word as is if the apostrophe were omitted.

44. Contractions and plurals
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
1. (She’s, Shes’) not at school today.
2. Add (%’s, %s’) after those numbers.
3. (It’s, Its) really windy today.
4. I made all (As’ and Bs’, A’s and B’s) this year.

45. Contractions and plurals
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
1. (She’s, Shes’) not at school today.
She’s is the contraction for she is. The apostrophe shows where the letter i has been omitted.

46. Contractions and plurals
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
2. Add (%’s, %s’) after those numbers.
Form the plural of a symbol by adding an apostrophe and an s.

47. Contractions and plurals
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
3. (It’s, Its) really windy today.
It’s is a contraction for it is. Its is the possessive case of the pronoun it, meaning “belonging to it.”

48. Contractions and plurals
Choose the correct form of the word or words in parentheses.
4. I made all (As’ and Bs’, A’s and B’s) this year.
To prevent confusion, the plural of some capital letters is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.

49. Contractions and plurals
On Your Own
Add apostrophes where needed in the following sentences. If the sentence is already correct, write C.
1. She didnt want to go to the movie with us.
2. There are more than two ss in that word.
3. I think thats a great idea!
4. Don’t forget to cross your t’s.
Shell have to catch up with us later.
[End of Section]

50. Contractions and plurals
Answers
Add apostrophes where needed in the following sentences. If the sentence is already correct, write C.
1. She didn’t want to go to the movie with us.
2. There are more than two s’s in that word.
3. I think that’s a great idea!
4. Don’t forget to cross your t’s.
She’ll have to catch up with us later. C

51. Review A
In the following sentences, circle any words that need apostrophes or have incorrect apostrophes.
1. Didnt you find someones’ wallet in the hallway yesterday?
2. One of that cars’ tires is low, but its not flat yet.
3. We’re leaving at nine o-clock in Mikes car.
4. Fran’s and Steven’s older brother came in first.
5. The Garzas front door was just painted.
[End of Section]

52. Review A
In the following sentences, circle any words that need apostrophes or have incorrect apostrophes.
1. Didnt you find someones’ wallet in the hallway yesterday?
2. One of that cars’ tires is low, but its not flat yet.
3. We’re leaving at nine o-clock in Mikes car.
4. Fran’s and Steven’s older brother came in first.
5. The Garzas front door was just painted.

53. Review B Add apostrophes as needed in the following sentences.
Ive forgotten my book; may I use yours?
Ours is the second house, the one with the childrens toys in the front yard.
Mr. Spears classroom is not being used this period.
Tonys bicycle wont be ready until two o clock.
The actors costumes were difficult to sew.
#3: We’ve already seen/used Mrs Rawlings in this lesson.
[End of Section]

54. Review B Add apostrophes as needed in the following sentences.
I’ve forgotten my book; may I use yours?
2. Ours is the second house, the one with the children’s toys in the front yard.
3. Mr. Spears’ classroom is not being used this period.
4. Tony’s bicycle won’t be ready until two o’clock.
5. The actors’ costumes were difficult to sew.

55. The End