Using Apostrophes
Why are apostrophes important?
Possessive case
Singular nouns and plural nouns
Possessive personal pronouns
Indefinite pronouns
Contractions
Plurals
Review A
Review B
Why are apostrophes important?
The apostrophe has several jobs to do.
The main job of the apostrophe is to show
ownership—or possession.
Is this Harry’s jacket?
Are these the dog’s treats?
Why are apostrophes important?
The apostrophe also shows where letters are
missing in contractions.
you will
you’ll
Sometimes, in special situations,
the apostrophe is used to form
plurals.
His o’s look like a’s.
Possessive case
Singular nouns and plural nouns
Singular nouns
Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive
case of most singular nouns.
the boy’s teddy bear
Tess’s phone
the squirrel’s tail
Possessive case
Singular 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
Possessive case
Singular 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.
Singular
Plural
Plural
Possessive
woman
women
women’s
tooth
teeth
teeth’s
Possessive case
Singular 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)
Possessive case
Possessive personal pronouns
A possessive personal pronoun never has an
apostrophe—even when the pronoun ends in s.
My backpack is
in my locker.
Where is your
backpack?
Sherry lost hers
yesterday.
Possessive case
Indefinite pronouns
In the possessive case, indefinite pronouns
need an apostrophe and an s.
I found someone’s soccer ball.
Is anyone’s uniform still clean?
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]
Contractions
An apostrophe shows where letters, words, or
numerals have been left out in a contraction.
let us
let’s
they have
they’ve
of the clock
o’clock
1999
here is
’99
here’s
Contractions
The word not can be shortened to n’t and added
to a verb. The spelling of the verb usually doesn’t
change.
are not
aren’t
could not
couldn’t
The two exceptions to this rule are
will not
won’t
cannot
can’t
[End of Section]
Plurals
To prevent confusion, use an apostrophe to form
the plurals of certain types of nouns.
Letters
The word hidden has two d’s.
Numerals
Your 1’s and 7’s look alike.
Symbols
Write $’s before all the amounts.
Words referred
to as words
She uses too many so’s and
and’s in her writing.
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]
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 their’s or our’s?
4. The monkeys tail was wrapped around a branch.
5. The Patterson’s yard looks beautiful, doesnt it?
6. Im going to feed their’ cat over the weekend.
[End of Section]
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.
[End of Section]
The End