Apostrophes

1
Apostrophes

• You Gotta Have em!

2
What Does an Apostrophe Do?

• An apostrophe has two functions
• An apostrophe is used to show possession or
  ownership
• Susies book
• Johns parents
• An apostrophe is used to form contractions
• Cant
• Im

3
Forming Possessives of Nouns

• Add an apostrophe and s to show the possessive
  case of most singular nouns
• The leaf of the shrub the shrubs leaf
• Notice that with a singular noun ending in s,
  you may still use an apostrophe and s to form
  the possessive
• The check of the waitress the waitresss check

4
Possessive Nouns, cnt.

• Add an apostrophe to show the possessive case of
  plural nouns ending in s or es.
• The t-shirts of the boys the boys t-shirts
• The uniforms of the sailors the sailors uniforms

5
Possessive nouns, cnt.

• Add an apostrophe and an s to show the
  possessive case of plural nouns that do not end
  in s or es.
• The suits of the men the mens suits
• The toys of the children the childrens toys

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Compound Noun Possessives

• Add an apostrophe and s (or just an apostrophe
  if the word is a plural ending in s) to the last
  word of a compound noun to form the possessive
• Johnny and Susies parents
• The Chief Justices decision

7
Joint and Individual Ownership

• Sometimes people share ownership and sometimes
  several people claim individual ownership
• To show joint ownership, make the final noun
  possessive. To show individual ownership, make
  each noun possessive
• Will and Martins dog
• Susans, Maries, and Alices papers

8
Forming Possessives of pronouns

• Do not use an apostrophe with the possessive
  forms of personal pronouns. The possessive forms
  of personal pronouns (his, hers, its, our, yours,
  theirs, and so on) already show possession.
  Thus, they do not need apostrophes.
• His old car
• That house of ours

9
Forming Contractions

• A contraction is formed by removing a letter or
  letters from an expression and replacing the
  missing letter(s) with an apostrophe.
• Cannot cant were not werent
• Should not shouldnt will not wont
• She will shell we will well
• He would hed they would theyd
• They have theyve you are youre
• I am Im Michael is Michaels

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Contractions and Formal Writing

• Contractions should be used sparingly in formal
  writing. Reserve them to add flavor to dialogue.
  In other cases, write out the words.
• Dont Be Lazy!

11
Try this exercise!

• http//phschool.com/atschool/writing_grammar/ruby/
  grammar_practice_activities/chapter27/wag11_act_27
  -6_a.html