Apostrophes

Apostrophes

English 9

Apostrophes

Apostrophes serve two purposes - possession and contraction.

Possession

To show possession, always add an 's unless the noun is plural and ends in s, in which case add only the apostrophe

Example 1

Wrong: Tonys hat is on the floor

Correct: Tony's hat is on the floor.

Example 2

Wrong: Louis' scarf is 3 feet long.

Correct: Louis's scarf is 3 feet long.

*Louis does end in s, but it is not plural.

Possesion

Example 3

Wrong: Both players's jerseys were soaked with sweat.

Correct: Both players' jerseys were soaked with sweat.

Contraction

Apostrophes can also be used to take the place of missing words or letters. For example, it's is short for it is and can't is short for cannot.

Common Contractions

it's - - - - - it is

they're - - - - - they are

who's - - - - - who is

could've - - - - - could have

he's - - - - - he is

I've - - - - - I have

your're - - - - - you are

that's - - - - - that is

As you probably know, there are quite a few words that get commonly confused with possessives and contractions that sound the same.

It's vs Its

it's (contraction) - He told me that it's an alien from outer space.

its (possessive) - The poster fell from its spot on the wall.

They're vs Their vs There

they're (contraction) - They're going to meet us at the restaurant.

their (possessive) - The students passed in their homework late.

there (location) - Jacob put the water bottle over there.

Who's vs Whose

who's (contraction) - Who's that person sitting by himself?

whose (possessive) - I have a friend whose mother is an accountant.

Examples

Wrong: The book has a cool picture on it's cover.

Correct: The book has a cool picture on its cover.

Wrong: He is the actor whose most known for his role in Batman.

Correct: He is the actor who's most known for his role in Batman.

Multiple Choice

Praised by critics for it's having innovative plot and cinematography, the director's first movie was a huge hit at the box office.

• NO CHANGE

• its

• it's

• its'

Multiple Choice

After the funeral was held for the brave soldiers, the general scattered their bodies ashes into the sea.

• NO CHANGE

• body's

• bodys

• bodies'

Multiple Choice

Writing code for applications and websites requires a lot of complexity to be stored in the programmers mind at any one time.

• NO CHANGE

• programmer's mind

• programmers' mind

• programmers mind's

Multiple Choice

Because their families are wealthy, each of my friends' houses has a swimming pool.

• NO CHANGE

• friend's houses

• friends houses

• friends houses'

Multiple Choice

I go to a school who's parking lot can acommodate only 10 cars.

• NO CHANGE

• whose

• that the

• where

Multiple Choice

The teacher told us that the semester's grades will be released a week from now.

• NO CHANGE

• semesters grades

• semesters' grades

• grade's for the semester

Multiple Choice

Every day, I look at the weeks deadline and make sure I'm on track to meet them.

• NO CHANGE

• weeks'

• week's

• weeks's

Multiple Choice

Examining the mountain in front of them, the hikers were confident in they're ability to climb its rocky terrain.

• NO CHANGE

• they're ability to climb it's

• their ability to climb its

• their ability to climb it's

Multiple Choice

Known for his powerful hooks, Mike Tyson was once one of boxings most fearsome competitors.

• NO CHANGE

• boxings

• boxing's

• one of boxing's

Multiple Choice

Before the dancers could finish, a loud noise in the audience disrupted their rhythm and ruined the entire performance.

• NO CHANGE

• they're

• it's

• its'