Using Apostrophes

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Using Apostrophes
Why are apostrophes important? Possessive
case Singular nouns and plural nouns Possessive
personal pronouns Indefinite pronouns Contraction
s Plurals Review A Review B
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Why are apostrophes important?
The apostrophe has several jobs to do.
The main job of the apostrophe is to show
ownershipor possession.
Is this Harrys jacket?
Are these the dogs treats?
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Why are apostrophes important?
The apostrophe also shows where letters are
missing in contractions.
you will
youll
Sometimes, in special situations, the apostrophe
is used to form plurals.
His os look like as.
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Singular nouns
Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive
case of most singular nouns.
the boys teddy bear
Tesss phone
the squirrels tail
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
The possessive case of a noun or pronoun shows
ownership or possession.
Are those Frans books sitting on your desk?
You own the desk.
Fran owns the books.
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Grammar Guy Says...
If a proper name ends in s, add only an
apostrophe if adding another s would make the
name awkward to say.
Ms. Rodgers cat
Hercules tasks
These would be hard to pronounce if an s were
added.
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Plural nouns
To form the possessive case of a plural noun
ending in s, just add an apostrophe.
the Carsons kitchen
the elephants trunks
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Plural nouns
Some irregular plural nouns do not end in s. Add
an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive
case.
Plural Possessive
Plural
Singular
women
womens
woman
teeths
teeth
tooth
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed.
1. Is that one of Lindas paintings?
2. Where is the cats food dish?
3. The director handed out the actors scripts.
4. That store has a large selection of womens
shoes.
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed.
1. Is that one of Lindas paintings?
The possessive case of the singular noun Linda is
formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed.
2. Where is the cats food dish?
The possessive case of the singular noun cat is
formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed.
3. The director handed out the actors scripts.
The possessive case of the plural noun actors is
formed by adding an apostrophe after the s.
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed.
4. That store has a large selection of womens
shoes.
The possessive case of the irregular plural noun
women is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
On Your Own
For each sentence, write the possessive case of
the word in parentheses. 1. __________ twin
sisters both play soccer. (Jeff) 2. The _________
cage was left open. (birds) 3. The __________
sails were torn and dirty. (boat) 4. We could see
the _________ tracks in the snow. (mice) 5. Is
that the __________ dog over by the tree? (Smiths)
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Possessive caseSingular nouns and plural nouns
Answers
For each sentence, write the possessive case of
the word in parentheses. 1. __________ twin
sisters both play soccer. (Jeff) 2. The _________
cage was left open. (birds) 3. The __________
sails were torn and dirty. (boat) 4. We could see
the _________ tracks in the snow. (mice) 5. Is
that the __________ dog over by the tree? (Smiths)
Jeffs
birds
boats
mices
Smiths
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Possessive casePossessive personal pronouns
A possessive personal pronoun never has an
apostropheeven when the pronoun ends in s.
Sherry lost hers yesterday.
My backpack is in my locker.
Where is your backpack?
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Possessive casePossessive personal pronouns
Dont confuse the possessive pronoun its with the
contraction its.
Grammar Guy Says...
Give the dog its bone.
Its time to go.
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Possessive caseIndefinite pronouns
In the possessive case, indefinite pronouns need
an apostrophe and an s.
I found someones soccer ball.
Is anyones uniform still clean?
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Possessive caseIndefinite pronouns
An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, a
place, a thing, or an idea that may or may not be
specifically named.
all each most one
another either much other
any everyone neither several
anybody everything nobody some
anyone few none somebody
anything many no one something
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Possessive casePossessive personal pronouns and
indefinite pronouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a
sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Henry and I had our picture taken together.
2. Someones umbrella is getting water all over
the floor.
3. Was anybodys house damaged by the flood?
4. Is that basketball yours?
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Possessive casePossessive personal pronouns and
indefinite pronouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a
sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Henry and I had our picture taken together.
C
Possessive personal pronouns such as our do not
have apostrophes.
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Possessive casePossessive personal pronouns and
indefinite pronouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a
sentence is already correct, label it C.
2. Someones umbrella is getting water all over
the floor.
The possessive case of indefinite pronouns is
formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.
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Possessive casePossessive personal pronouns and
indefinite pronouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a
sentence is already correct, label it C.
3. Was anybodys house damaged by the flood?
The possessive case of indefinite pronouns is
formed by adding an apostrophe and an s.
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Possessive casePossessive personal pronouns and
indefinite pronouns
Identify the possessive words in these
sentences. Add apostrophes where needed. If a
sentence is already correct, label it C.
C
4. Is that basketball yours?
Possessive personal pronouns such as yours do not
have apostrophes.
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Possessive case
On Your Own
For each sentence, write the possessive case of
the word in parentheses. 1. _____________ project
must be finished by Wednesday. (Everybody) 2. Can
we meet at __________ house tomorrow after
school? (you) 3. Helen found __________
sunglasses in the locker room. (somebody) 4. Ray
rode __________ new bike all day long. (him)
End of Section
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Possessive case
Answers
For each sentence, write the possessive case of
the word in parentheses. 1. _____________ project
must be finished by Wednesday. (Everybody) 2. Can
we meet at __________ house tomorrow after
school? (you) 3. Helen found __________
sunglasses in the locker room. (somebody) 4. Ray
rode __________ new bike all day long. (him)
Everybodys
your
somebodys
his
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Contractions
An apostrophe shows where letters, words, or
numerals have been left out in a contraction.
let us
lets
they have
theyve
oclock
of the clock
1999
99
here is
heres
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Contractions
The word not can be shortened to nt and added to
a verb. The spelling of the verb usually doesnt
change.
are not
arent
could not
couldnt
The two exceptions to this rule are
will not
wont
cannot
cant
End of Section
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Contractions
Do not confuse contractions with possessive
pronouns.
Grammar Guy Says...
Contractions Possessive Pronouns
Its (It is) raining. Its tires are flat.
Whos (Who is) your coach? Whose watch is this?
Youre (You are) welcome. Your sister is here.
Theyre (They are) late. Their team won.
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Plurals
To prevent confusion, use an apostrophe to form
the plurals of certain types of nouns.
The word hidden has two ds.
Letters
Numerals
Your 1s and 7s look alike.
Write s before all the amounts.
Symbols
Words referred to as words
She uses too many sos and ands in her writing.
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Plurals
Some writers do not use apostrophes to form the
plurals of letters, numerals, and symbols.
However, it is best to use the apostrophe to make
sure your meaning is clear.
Grammar Guy Says...
Try to write your as more clearly.
Try to write your as more clearly.
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Contractions and plurals
Add apostrophes where they are needed in the
following sentences.
1. The word vacuum has two us.
2. Hes always forgetting to dot his is.
3. Those numbers look like 2s, but theyre 3s.
4. Id gladly go next, but its really your turn.
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Contractions and plurals
Add apostrophes where they are needed in the
following sentences.
1. The word vacuum has two us.
Use an apostrophe and an s to form the plural of
a letter, such as u.
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Contractions and plurals
Add apostrophes where they are needed in the
following sentences.
2. Hes always forgetting to dot his is.
Hes is the contraction for He is. Use an
apostrophe to show where letters are missing in
contractions. Use an apostrophe and an s to form
the plural of a letter, such as i.
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Contractions and plurals
Add apostrophes where they are needed in the
following sentences.
3. Those numbers look like 2s, but theyre 3s.
Use an apostrophe and an s to form the plural of
a number, such as 2 or 3. Theyre is the
contraction for They are. Use an apostrophe to
show where letters are missing in contractions.
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Contractions and plurals
Add apostrophes where they are needed in the
following sentences.
4. Id gladly go next, but its really your turn.
Id is the contraction for I would, and its is
the contraction for it is. Use an apostrophe to
show where letters are missing in contractions.
Your is a possessive pronoun. Do not use
apostrophes in possessive pronouns.
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Contractions and plurals
On Your Own
For each sentence, supply the correct form as
indicated in parentheses. 1. How many ________
are in the word Mississippi? (plural of the
letter p) 2. Your essay contains too many
________ . (plural of the word very) 3. I was
going to go for a walk, but ________ snowing
right now. (contraction of it is) 4. Jamal
________ go to the movies with us. (contraction
of did not)
End of Section
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Contractions and plurals
Answers
For each sentence, supply the correct form as
indicated in parentheses. 1. How many ________
are in the word Mississippi? (plural of the
letter p) 2. Your essay contains too many
________ . (plural of the word very) 3. I was
going to go for a walk, but ________ snowing
right now. (contraction of it is) 4. Jamal
________ go to the movies with us. (contraction
of did not)
ps
verys
its
didnt
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Review A
In the following sentences, circle any words that
need apostrophes or have incorrect apostrophes.
1. Kim wasnt sure whos hat it was. 2. That trees
trunk is at least two feet thick. 3. Is the vase
on the table theirs or ours? 4. The monkeys
tail was wrapped around a branch. 5. The
Pattersons yard looks beautiful, doesnt it? 6.
Im going to feed their cat over the weekend.
End of Section
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Review A
In the following sentences, circle any words that
need apostrophes or have incorrect apostrophes.
1. Kim wasnt sure whos hat it was. 2. That trees
trunk is at least two feet thick. 3. Is the vase
on the table theirs or ours? 4. The monkeys
tail was wrapped around a branch. 5. The
Pattersons yard looks beautiful, doesnt it? 6.
Im going to feed their cat over the weekend.
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Review B

• Add apostrophes as needed in the following
  sentences.
• Please dont use s in your essays for school.
• Jane cant fix his bike tonight she has to fix
  hers first.
• Everyones face lit up when our team made a goal.
• Meet us at Randys house, and well help you study.
• Doesnt Mr. Serrano usually pack the girls
  lunches?
• 6. Dad told me to stop giving him maybes as
  answers.

End of Section
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Review B
Add apostrophes as needed in the following
sentences.

1. Please dont use s in your essays for school.

2. Jane cant fix his bike tonight she has to
fix hers first.
3. Everyones face lit up when our team made a
goal.
4. Meet us at Randys house, and well help you
study.
5. Doesnt Mr. Serrano usually pack the girls
lunches?
6. Dad told me to stop giving him maybes as
answers.
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The End