Using Apostrophes Correctly

USE #1 TO SHOW POSSESSION:

On SINGULAR nouns add ’s

one boy’s uniform Carlos’s bicycle the world’s opinion a week’s salary city’s problems Charles’s book one day’s pay the bus’s tires my boss’s job

Exception: Buenos Aries’ citizens Oedipus’ children

1. On plural nouns ending in s add only the apostrophe

cats’ owner coaches’ records cities’ problems two days’ pay three weeks’ salary buses’ tires

2. On plural nouns NOT ending in s add ’s

children’s toys men’s hats women’s shoes geese’s feathers mice’s nests oxen’s burdens

Practice using apostrophes with SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS------CORRECT THE MISTAKES.

1. There is a new boy’s camp across the lake from the girls camp.

2. A secretarys hours are much shorter than a housewifes.

3. The two speaker’s words were drowned out by the audiences coughing. 4. Harolds friend just bought Lambert Companys building.

5. Two week’s stay here will bring you a years good health.

6. Both boy’s bikes have been locked up in Mr. Smith’s garage.

7. In honor of Mondays tragedy, please remain silent for three minutes time.

8. The presidents speech raised the Americans hopes.

9. Some of the counselors offices are being remodeled. (more than one counselor)

10. The wolfs den was disturbed by the construction companys machinery.

USE #1continued TO SHOW POSSESSION:

Indefinite pronouns add ’s someone’s backpack no one’s fault anyone’s choice everyone’s job each other’s cards anybody’s book

Compound nouns add ’s to the last word Urban League’s office sister-in-law’s house attorney general’s job NBC’s new programs Rockwall High School’s enrollment

Joint ownership: Separate ownership: Place ’s on the last name: Place ’s on both names:

Mom and Dad’s car Mom’s and Dad’s cars

Aunt Ellen and Uncle Jim’s cabin Michael’s and Tim’s wallets

John and Sue’s project John’s and Sue’s projects

Clinton’s and Bush’s presidencies

Alice’s and Maria’s personalities

Practice using apostrophes with INDEFINITE PRONOUNS, COMPOUND NOUNS, and JOINT/SEPARATE OWNERSHIP------CORRECT THE MISTAKES.

1. What is your father’s-in-law business?

2. Everyone elses’ house was damaged by the storm except hers.

3. John and Jason’s projects were about different subjects. (Each boy did his own project.)

4. Someones backpack is in Mr. Smiths room. Is it yours? 5. Everyones presentations were ready on the due date.

6. Johns and Freds presentations won first and second place, respectively.

7. A two-year-olds behavior can be annoying to his parents.

8. Do you have an account at Wilson and Smiths’ store?

9. Jan’s and Mary’s phone conversations last for hours when they call each other.

USE #2 TO INDICATE A CONTRACTION

who is who’s I am I’m

there is there’s you are you’re

could have could’ve we had we’d

1999 ’99 cannot can’t

I would I’d will not won’t

does not doesn’t should not shouldn’t

USE #3 TO FORM CERTAIN PLURALS

Add ’s to form the plural of the following:

letters I can’t read your k’s. Your m’s look like n’s. numbers Write your 5’s and 2’s more clearly. symbols #’s ?’s !’s words that represent themselves Don’t use so many and’s and so’s when you write.

------DO NOT USE APOSTROPHES IN THESE CASES:

1. Do NOT add an apostrophe to these possessive pronouns:

hers yours ours theirs its

Incorrect examples: The horse lost it’s shoe. The car in our driveway is their’s.

Don’t confuse it’s and its. it’s = it is its = ownership

2. Do NOT add an apostrophe to a noun that is simply plural:

Incorrect examples: We have book’s for sale. The towel’s are on aisle 5. Wal-Mart has low price’s. My friend’s are going to Tahoe this weekend.

3. Do NOT add an apostrophe to a present tense verb:

Incorrect examples: Marianne cut’s her own hair. The character reveal’s his fear when he run’s from the scene. Everyone love’s a three-day weekend.

Practice using apostrophes with CONTRACTIONS and CERTAIN PLURALS; and DO NOT USE APOSTROPHES IN THESE CASES------CORRECT THE MISTAKES.

1. Alice has jobs at two different store’s this summer because she want’s to save money for college.

2. Sports magazine publishes it’s best stories at the end of the year in Decembers issue.

3. Mr. Harris car will not be ready for three hours’; our’s will be finished in a few minute’s.

4. Charles order must have been lost in Mondays mail. Have you received your’s? My order hasnt arrived.

5. She earn’s two weeks wages in one weeks time by working overtime.

6. The womens’ page in Wednesdays paper give’s career tip’s. Its a popular feature.

7. The firm owe’s Mrs. Black four weeks’ wages’.

8. Bill Hailey and the Comets records have been popular for many years’.

9. After a years practice, Susan tried out for her high schools tennis team.

10. Theres a sale this weekend on womens shoes and mens slacks. 11. Both owners horses were disqualified because they were given illegal substances before the race.

12. Mr. Carters environmental science class is going to visit the Smiths herb farm.

13. Fifty dollars worth of gasoline is not much these days because its so expensive.

14. Whos the goalie on Heaths team? Sean Michaelson is ours.

15. Did you hear this mornings weather report? Its supposed to rain all day.

16. Johns and Susans speeches were the best of the competition.

The following questions come from released STAAR tests. Sometimes, the correct answer IS a change in the use of the apostrophe. Other times, an answer choice involving an apostrophe is an incorrect answer. Either way, you need to know the apostrophe rules so that you can choose the correct answer and avoid incorrect answers.

1. What change should be made in sentence 21? (21) Although the results are short-lived and the work itself is difficult Beever remains determined to bring his art to the street.

A. Change results to result’s B. Insert a comma after difficult C. Change determined to determinned D. Change his to their

2. What change needs to be made in sentence 7? (7) Now I want to convince others that the plays of Shakespeare is timeless, entertaining, and actually quite accessible.

A. Change others to other’s B. Change is to are C. Change quite to quiet D. Change accessible to accessable

3. What change, if any, should be made in sentence 8? (8) People have come to rely on plastic bags as everything from totes for groceries to trash-can linners to lunch bags. A. Change come to came B. Change groceries to grocery’s C. Change linners to liners D. Make no change 4. What change needs to be made in sentence 22? (22) While Hammurabi’s code aimed to protect individual right’s, its interpretation of justice was extremely severe, with death or physical punishment serving as the most common consequence for a crime. A. Change right’s to rights B. Change its to it’s C. Change the comma after severe to a semicolon D. Change consequence to consequence ANSWER KEY

Using Apostrophes Correctly

USE #1 TO SHOW POSSESSION:

On SINGULAR nouns add ’s

one boy’s uniform Carlos’s bicycle the world’s opinion a week’s salary city’s problems Charles’s book one day’s pay the bus’s tires my boss’s job

Exception: Buenos Aries’ citizens Oedipus’ children

1. On plural nouns ending in s add only the apostrophe

cats’ owner coaches’ records cities’ problems two days’ pay three weeks’ salary buses’ tires

2. On plural nouns NOT ending in s add ’s

children’s toys men’s hats women’s shoes geese’s feathers mice’s nests oxen’s burdens

Practice using apostrophes with SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS------CORRECT THE MISTAKES. 1. There is a new boys’ camp across the lake from the girls’ camp. 2. A secretary’s hours are much shorter than a housewife’s. 3. The two speakers’ words were drowned out by the audience’s coughing. 4. Harold’s friend just bought Lambert Company’s building. 5. Two weeks’ stay here will bring you a year’s good health. 6. Both boys’ bikes have been locked up in Mr. Smith’s garage. 7. In honor of Monday’s tragedy, please remain silent for three minutes’ time. 8. The president’s speech raised the Americans’ hopes. 9. Some of the counselors’ offices are being remodeled. (more than one counselor) 10. The wolf’s den was disturbed by the construction company’s machinery.

USE #1continued TO SHOW POSSESSION:

Indefinite pronouns add ’s someone’s backpack no one’s fault anyone’s choice everyone’s job each other’s cards anybody’s book

Compound nouns add ’s to the last word Urban League’s office sister-in-law’s house attorney general’s job NBC’s new programs Rockwall High School’s enrollment

Joint ownership: Separate ownership: Place ’s on the last name: Place ’s on both names:

Mom and Dad’s car Mom’s and Dad’s cars Aunt Ellen and Uncle Jim’s cabin Michael’s and Tim’s wallets John and Sue’s project John’s and Sue’s projects Clinton’s and Bush’s presidencies Alice’s and Maria’s personalities

Practice using apostrophes with INDEFINITE PRONOUNS, COMPOUND NOUNS, and JOINT/SEPARATE OWNERSHIP------CORRECT THE MISTAKES.

1. What is your father-in-law’s business? 2. Everyone else’s house was damaged by the storm except hers. 3. John’s and Jason’s projects were about different subjects. (Each boy did his own project.) 4. Someone’s backpack is in Mr. Smith’s room. Is it yours? 5. Everyone’s presentations were ready on the due date. 6. John’s and Fred’s presentations won first and second place, respectively. 7. A two-year-old’s behavior can be annoying to his parents. 8. Do you have an account at Wilson and Smith’s store? 9. Jan and Mary’s phone conversations last for hours when they call each other.

USE #2 TO INDICATE A CONTRACTION

who is who’s I am I’m there is there’s you are you’re could have could’ve we had we’d 1999 ’99 cannot can’t I would I’d will not won’t does not doesn’t should not shouldn’t

USE #3 TO FORM CERTAIN PLURALS

Add ’s to form the plural of the following:

letters I can’t read your k’s. Your m’s look like n’s. numbers Write your 5’s and 2’s more clearly. symbols #’s ?’s !’s words that represent themselves Don’t use so many and’s and so’s when you write.

------DO NOT USE APOSTROPHES IN THESE CASES:

1. Do NOT add an apostrophe to these possessive pronouns: hers yours ours theirs its Incorrect examples: The horse lost it’s shoe. The car in our driveway is their’s. Don’t confuse it’s and its. it’s = it is its = ownership

2. Do NOT add an apostrophe to a noun that is simply plural:

Incorrect examples: We have book’s for sale. The towel’s are on aisle 5. Wal-Mart has low price’s. My friend’s are going to Tahoe this weekend.

3. Do NOT add an apostrophe to a present tense verb:

Incorrect examples: Marianne cut’s her own hair. The character reveal’s his fear when he run’s from the scene. Everyone love’s a three-day weekend.

______Practice using apostrophes with CONTRACTIONS and CERTAIN PLURALS; and DO NOT USE APOSTROPHES IN THESE CASES------CORRECT THE MISTAKES.

1. Alice has jobs at two different stores this summer because she wants to save money for college.

2. Sports magazine publishes its best stories at the end of the year in December’s issue.

3. Mr. Harris’ (or Harris’s) car will not be ready for three hours; ours will be finished in a few minute’s.

4. Charles’s order must have been lost in Monday’s mail. Have you received yours? My order hasn’t arrived.

5. She earns two weeks’ wages in one week’s time by working overtime.

6. The women’s page in Wednesday’s paper gives career tips. It’s a popular feature.

7. The firm owes Mrs. Black four weeks’ wages.

8. Bill Hailey and the Comets’ records have been popular for many years.

9. After a year’s practice, Susan tried out for her high school’s tennis team.

10. There’s a sale this weekend on women’s shoes and men’s slacks.

11. Both owners’ horses were disqualified because they were given illegal substances before the race. 12. Mr. Carter’s environmental science class is going to visit the Smiths’ herb farm.

13. Fifty dollars’ worth of gasoline is not much these days because it’s so expensive.

14. Who’s the goalie on Heath’s team? Sean Michaelson is ours.

15. Did you hear this morning’s weather report? It’s supposed to rain all day.

16. John’s and Susan’s speeches were the best of the competition.

The following questions come from released STAAR tests. Sometimes, the correct answer IS a change in the use of the apostrophe. Other times, an answer choice involving an apostrophe is an incorrect answer. Either way, you need to know the apostrophe rules so that you can choose the correct answer and avoid incorrect answers.

1. What change should be made in sentence 21? (21) Although the results are short-lived and the work itself is difficult Beever remains determined to bring his art to the street.

A. Change results to result’s B. Insert a comma after difficult C. Change determined to determinned D. Change his to their

2. What change needs to be made in sentence 7? (7) Now I want to convince others that the plays of Shakespeare is timeless, entertaining, and actually quite accessible.

A. Change others to other’s B. Change is to are C. Change quite to quiet D. Change accessible to accessable

3. What change, if any, should be made in sentence 8? (8) People have come to rely on plastic bags as everything from totes for groceries to trash-can linners to lunch bags. A. Change come to came B. Change groceries to grocery’s C. Change linners to liners D. Make no change

4. What change needs to be made in sentence 22? (22) While Hammurabi’s code aimed to protect individual right’s, its interpretation of justice was extremely severe, with death or physical punishment serving as the most common consequence for a crime. A. Change right’s to rights B. Change its to it’s C. Change the comma after severe to a semicolon D. Change consequence to consequense