Plurals, Possessive, and Contractions

Plurals, Possessive, and Contractions

Apostrophes can change the meaning of your words.

When do writers use an apostrophe?

• singular possessive nouns

• plural possessives nouns

• contractions

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 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.

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.

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

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!

Let's Review

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