Apostrophes

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Apostrophes
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Apostrophes are used for contractions.

• Isnt it a shame that the team lost?
• We werent sure about the weather.
• Wed hoped for warmer temperatures.

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Apostrophes also show possession.

• The schools fencing team is great.
• Our beloved countrys colors are red, white and
  blue.
• The Pistons fans show a lot of heart and soul.

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Rule 1 (p. 699) For most singular possessive
nouns, simply add an apostrophe and an s

• Singular Noun Possessive Case
• bus The buss horn
• Mr. Tyler Mr. Tylers
  humor
• coach The coachs
  home
• Tracy Tracys trombone
• Exception For a proper noun which ends in s or
  z, add
• only an apostrophe. This rule applies to
  singular plural
• nouns.
• Texas fields The Jones estate
• Ms. Martinez coat The Sommers pictures

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Rule 2 (p. 700) Most plural nouns end in s, and
to make those plural nouns possessive, simply add
an apostrophe.

• Plural Noun Possessive Case
• busses The busses horns
• uncles Their
  uncles wishes
• countries The countries flags
• Exception Some plural nouns do not end in s.
  Examples
• include words like people, men, women, children,
  teeth, deer, sheep,
• cattle, and mice. For these words, add an
  apostrophe and
• an s.
• Mices fur Mens clothing Childrens toys
  Deers tails Teeths glow

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Rule 3 (see pp. 702 and 708) Understand Whose,
Its, Their and Your.

• Whose the possessive form of the pronoun who
• Whos Who is written as a contraction.
• Example Whose book is this?
• Its the possessive form of the pronoun it
• Its It is or It has written as a
  contraction
• Example The animal was wet its coat was
  drenched.
• Their the possessive form of the pronoun they
• Theyre They are written as a contraction
• There A word stressing placement.
• Example Their coffee cups are over there.

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Rule 4 (p. 705) With compound nouns and words
showing joint possession, only the last word
takes possessive form.

• The Museum of Arts budget went south.
• Peggy and Lisas tent got soaked.
• When one of the words showing possession is a
  pronoun,
• both words should be in possessive form
• Peggys and my tent got soaked.
• When two or more persons possess something
  individually,
• each of their names is in possessive form
• Mrs. Martins and Mrs. Blairs cars were stolen.

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Interesting Apostrophe ScenariosAdapted from
University of Delawares Grammar Hotline
Indexwww. http//www.udel.edu/eli/questions/g21.h
tml

• Q. How would you show possession for an agency
  such as the City of Pensacola?
• A. I would write the City of Pensacolas dump
  trucks.
• Q How does one handle the apostrophe for
  multiple possessive nouns,
• such as Marys fathers colleagues will be
  attending the party?
• A Marys fathers colleagues will be attending
  the party is correct.
• Q. Please help with the possessive for singular
  words ending in ch.
• A. The possessive for singular nouns ending in
  -ch is 's.
• my watchs battery the churchs steeplethe
  peachs pit.

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Homework

• p. 700 Exercises 1 and 2, even s.
• p. 704 Review B, even s.
• p. 706 Exercise 6, even s.