Plurals, Possessive, Contractions, Semi-colons

Plurals, Possessive, and Contractions

​

Let's throw in some semi-colons too!​

Apostrophes can change the meaning of your words.

​

Semi-colons can make your writing more advanced.​

Multiple Choice

What punctuation mark is this?

• colon

• semi colon

• bracket

• comma

Multiple Choice

You use a semi-colon to separate 2 main clauses (or sentences) which are related to each other.

• True!

• False!

Multiple Choice

You can use semi colon in a list of clauses:

When you have finished your exam, please check through your work; make sure that your name is on the top of your paper; correct all your mistakes, and fill in your candidate number.

• true

• False

Multiple Choice

Where should the semi-colon be placed?

Dad is going bald his hair is getting thinner and thinner.

• getting;

• bald;

• hair;

Multiple Choice

What are the semicolons doing in this sentence?

"John likes all kinds of sandwiches: bacon, lettuce and tomato; peanut butter and jelly; ham, cheese, and turkey; and plenty more.

• They are uniting two closely connected clauses.

• They are separating items in a complex list.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence.

• I really like tacos; because I have been eating them since I was little.
• I really like tacos because I have been eating them since I was little.

Multiple Choice

After which word in the sentence below should a semi-colon be inserted?

The sky was cloudy however, it never rained.

• sky
• cloudy
• however
• never

Multiple Choice

Insert the correct punctuation.

Zadie Smith is a writer who grew up in London ____ she is best known for her award-winning novel 'White Teeth'.

• comma

• semi-colon

• colon

Multiple Choice

It was really cold last week ___ however, it's been in the 60s the last few days.

• Semicolon

• Colon

• Hyphen

• Comma

Multiple Choice

Is this sentence correct?
The school day had ended; but I still had to go to practice.

• yes
• no

Multiple Choice

If I don't study for this test, I'm not going to do well __ if I don't do well, I will cry.

• Semicolon

• Colon

• Comma

• Full stop

Multiple Choice

Last night's rain left the tree-lined trail in the park wet and muddy ___ nevertheless, I enjoyed the fresh, clean air.

• semi-colon

• colon

• comma

• none of the above

When do writers use an apostrophe?

• singular possessive nouns

• plural possessives nouns

• contractions

Plural Nouns DON'T use apostrophes!

• When you make a plural, you usually add -s to the end: cats, books, movies, cookies

• Irregular nouns may change form: mouse to mice, man to men, child to children, cactus to cacti

• Some English words are plural AND singular: sheep, moose, deer

Possessive Nouns

Use an apostrophe to show possession, or ownership, of something.

To make a singular noun possessive, add 's.

To make a plural noun possessive, you usually add an apostrophe AFTER the s.

Multiple Choice

How would you make this possessive?

The television belonging to Kelly was too loud!

• Kelly's television was too loud!

• Kellys' television was too loud!

• Kellys television was too loud

Multiple Choice

How would you make this possessive?

The books belonging to the two boys were on the floor.

• The boy's books were on the floor.

• The boys' books were on the floor.

• The boys books were on the floor.

Multiple Choice

How would you make this possessive?

The locker of the girl is a mess.

• The girl's locker is a mess.

• The girls' locker is a mess.

• The girls locker is a mess.

Contractions Using "is" also use apostrophes

Contractions are a combination of two words. The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter(s).

Fill in the Blank

Use an apostrophe to shorten the underlined words:

He is not going to the game.

Fill in the Blank

Use an apostrophe to form the contraction of the underlined words:

That is definitely the problem!

Multiple Choice

Possessive, Contraction, or Plural?

The Pony Express's name comes from the mail carriers riding ponies.

• possessive

• contraction

• plural

Multiple Choice

Possessive, Contraction, or Plural?

The mail prices once cost five dollars for a letter.

• possessive

• contraction

• plural

Multiple Choice

Possessive, Contraction, or Plural?

The Pony Express -- that's the basis for the modern postal system.

• possessive

• contraction

• plural