UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
Define the following:
Shell_________________________________________________________________________________
She’ll ________________________________________________________________________________
Shed_________________________________________________________________________________
She’d________________________________________________________________________________
So, what exactly is an apostrophe?
It is a punctuation mark that looks like this:
No. It’s not a comma. It’s the punctuation used in the “it’s” in this sentence.
Apostrophes are necessary for expressing meaning clearly in written English. For instance, the
difference in meaning between shell and she’ll or shed and she’d. is indicated in writing by the
apostrophe (and, of course, the context).
1
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
If you sometimes forget to use apostrophes, or if you use them incorrectly, the rules in this unit will
prove helpful.
PART ONE - POSSESSIVES
Possessive Case
What does possessive mean?_____________________________________________________________
The possessive of a noun or pronoun shows ownership or relationship. The nouns and pronouns in
boldfaced type in the following sentences are in the possessive case.
OWNERSHIP
She is a teacher in Maria’s school.
Can I count on your vote?
RELATIONSHIP
Anne’s friend uses a wheelchair.
You need a good night’s sleep
RULE 1:
To form the ____________________ case of a ____________________ noun, add an
APOSTROPHE and an _____.
EXAMPLES
Exception:
Kia’s problems.
A night’s work
The mayor’s job
this evening’s paper
Mrs. Hedrick’s desk
a dollar’s worth
A _________________________ ending in _____ may add only an apostrophe if the
name consists of _________________________ syllables or if the addition of the
_____ would make the name awkward to pronounce.
What is a proper noun?__________________________________________________________________
EXAMPLES
2
Ulysses’ plan
Mrs. Rawlings’ car
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
EXERCISE 1 - Using Apostrophes to Form the Possessive Case of Singular Nouns.
Form the possessive case of each of the following singular words. After each possessive word, write an
appropriate noun.
EXAMPLE
1. Theresa
1. Theresa’s pencil
1. Baby _________________________________________________________________________
2. Uncle _________________________________________________________________________
3. Year __________________________________________________________________________
4. Cent __________________________________________________________________________
5. Car ___________________________________________________________________________
6. Terry _________________________________________________________________________
7. Ellen _________________________________________________________________________
8. Mouse ________________________________________________________________________
9. Mr. James _____________________________________________________________________
10. Ms. Joyce ______________________________________________________________________
3
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
RULE 2:
To form the ____________________ case of a ____________________ noun ending in
_____, add __________ the APOSTROPHE.
EXAMPLES
both aunts’ husbands
cousins’ visit
What does plural mean?_________________________________________________________________
Although most plural nouns end in s, some are irregular. To form the possessive case of a plural noun
that does not end in s, add an apostrophe and an s.
EXERCISE 2 – Forming the Possessive Case of Plural Nouns
Write the possessive case of each of the following plural nouns:
1.
Women_______________________________________________________________________
2. Cats __________________________________________________________________________
3. Teachers ______________________________________________________________________
4. Enemies _______________________________________________________________________
5. Princesses _____________________________________________________________________
6. Dollars ________________________________________________________________________
7. Elves _________________________________________________________________________
8. Oxen _________________________________________________________________________
9. Mice _________________________________________________________________________
10. Parents _______________________________________________________________________
4
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
Do NOT use an apostrophe to form the plural of a noun.
Remember that the apostrophe shows ownership or relationship; because of this it is nearly
always followed by a noun.
INCORRECT
CORRECT
Two players’ left their gym suits in the locker room.
Two players left their gym suits in the locker room. (plural, not
possessive)
CORRECT
Two players’ gym suits were left in the locker room. (The apostrophe
shows that the gym suits belong to the two players.
EXERCISE 3 – Correcting Phrases by Forming the Possessive Case of Nouns.
Revise the following phrases by using the possessive case.
EXAMPLE
1. parties for seniors
1.
1.
the seniors’ parties
Prizes for winners ______________________________________________________________
2. Manners for teenagers ___________________________________________________________
3. Yokes of oxens _________________________________________________________________
4. Duties of nurses ________________________________________________________________
5. Names of players _______________________________________________________________
5
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
6. Suits for women ________________________________________________________________
7.
8.
9.
10.
Organization for principals ________________________________________________________
Medals for veterans _____________________________________________________________
Routines for dancers _____________________________________________________________
Roles for actresses ______________________________________________________________
EXERCISE 4. Recognizing Correct Forms of Nouns.
Number your paper 1-10. After the proper number, write the correct form of the noun parentheses.
EXAMPLE
1. Two (candidates, candidates’) spoke at the (voters, voters’) forum.
1. Candidates, voters’
1. Two (friends, friends’) and I asked the (mayor’s, mayors) committee to set aside Lake Palmer as
a wildlife sanctuary. _____________________________________________________________
2. On a recent hike along the lake, we saw several (birds, birds’) nests. ______________________
3. A flock of (ducks, ducks’) paddled in the shallow water. _________________________________
4. A (ducks, duck’s) bill sieves out tiny water (plants, plants’) and (animals, aminals’).
______________________________________________________________________________
5. At this time of year, the (mallard’s, mallards) plumage is especially colorful. ________________
6. We tried not to disturb some (grebes, grebes’) that were swimming with their young on their
(backs, backs’). _________________________________________________________________
7. Pilar pointed out how the young (birds, birds’) held onto their (parents, parents’) feathers with
their (bills, bills’). _______________________________________________________________
8. Two meetings have been scheduled to hear opposing (views, views’) on the proposal.
______________________________________________________________________________
9. (Citizens, Citizens’) rights as well as environmental concerns must be considered.
______________________________________________________________________________
10. The (childrens, childrens’) point of view will be presented by my sister (Karen’s, Karens) friend.
______________________________________________________________________________
6
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
SINGULAR
Cousin
Student
Week
Dime
Hostess
Pony
Lynx
Wife
Man
Child
Hero
RULE 3:
SUMMARY
The following examples illustrate Rules 1 and 2.
SINGULAR
PLURAL
POSSESSIVE
Cousin’s letter
Cousins
Student’s paper
Students
Week’s salary
Weeks
Dime’s worth
Dimes
Hostess’s idea
Hostesses
Pony’s harness
Ponies
Lynx’s roar
Lynxes
Wife’s career
Wives
Man’s shirt
Men
Child’s toy
Children
Hero’s medal
Heroes
PLURAL POSSESSIVE
Cousins’ letters
Students’papers
Two weeks’ salary
Two dimes’ worth
Hostesses’ ideas
Ponies’ harnesses
Lynxes’ roars
Wives’ careers
Men’s shirts
Children’s toys
Heroes’ medals
__________________________________________ do NOT require an
apostrophe.
Possessive Personal Pronouns are:
My, mine
Your, yours
His, her, hers, its
our, ours
their, theirs
The possessive form of who is whose, not who’s (meaning “who is”). Similarly, do not write it’s
(meaning “it is”) for its, or they’re (meaning “they are”) for their.
My, your, her, its, our, and their are used before a noun. Mine, yours, hers, ours, and theirs, on the other
hand, are never used before a noun; they are used as subjects, complements, or objects in sentences.
His may be used either way.
7
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
EXAMPLES
That is your watch. That watch is yours. Her idea was wonderful. Hers was the
best idea.
Samantha has your sweater. Samantha has a sweater of yours.
Renell has our plant; Ariel has theirs.
There is his record. There is a record of his.
EXERCISE 5 – Recognizing Correct Forms of Possessive Personal Pronouns.
Circle the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses.
1.
You will be pleased to hear, Sumi, that two poems of (yours, yours’) have been selected for the
literary magazine.
2. When I first read this book, I was surprised by the quality of (its, it’s) artwork.
3. (Hers, Hers’) is the bicycle with the reflectors on (its, it’s) fendrs.
4. Eudora Welty, (who’s, whose) short stories involve eccentric characters, is my favorite writer.
5. “The trophy is (ours, ours’)!” shouted the captain as the Flying S crossed the finish line.
6. (Theirs, Theirs’) is the only house with blue shutters, so you should have no difficulty finding it.
7. Penny and Arline worked as gardeners this summer and saved (their, they’re) money for a ski
trip.
8. The students (who’s, whose) names are called are to report backstage.
9. (Their, They’re) schedule calls for a math test on Tuesday.
10. (Who’s, Whose) signature is this?
8
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
RULE 4
_____________________ in the ____________________ case require an
apostrophe and an S.
THE INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
ALL
ANYTHING
EVERYONE
MOST
ANOTHER
BOTH
EVERYTHING
MUCH
ANY
EACH
FEW
NEITHER
ANYBODY
EITHER
MANY
NOBODY
ANYONE
EVERYBODY
MORE
NONE
NO ONE
OTHER
SOME
SOMEONE
ONE
SEVERAL
SOMEBODY
EXAMPLES
’
nobody s wish
’
Someone s license
’
neither’s school
another s point of view
EXERCISE 6. Recognizing Correct Forms of Possessive Pronouns.
Circle the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses.
1.
The reward is (yours, your’s).
2. (Ours, Our’s) works better than (theirs, their’s).
3. (Who’s, Whose) game is that?
4. (Theirs, Their’s) is not to reason why; (theirs, their’s) is but to do and die.
5. My family is pleased with (its, it’s) vacations.
6. It wasn’t (anyone’s, anyones’) fault that we missed the bus.
7. (Eithers, Either’s) project may win first prize at the Science Fair.
8. (Ones, One’s, Ones’) tech should be checked regularly.
9
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
9. (Everybodys, Everybody’s, Everybodys’) trees must be irrigated.
10. The dog of (their’s, theirs) should be on a leash.
Review Practice. Writing the Singular, Plural, and Possessive Forms of Nouns
Use the Columns below. Write the appropriate form for each of the numbered words in
the appropriate column followed by a suitable noun to follow each word in the possessive case.
If you do not know how to spell the word in plural form use a dictionary.
#
SINGULAR
SINGULAR
POSSESSIVE
1
PARENT
2
TYPIST
3
BICYCLE
4
REFEREE
5
BABY
6
WOMAN
7
PENNY
8
HARDWARE
PLURAL
PLURAL
POSSESSIVE
STORE
10
9
MUSICIAN
10
LIONESS
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
PART TWO CONTRACTIONS
Rule 5
Use ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
contraction.
A contraction is a shortened form of a word or figure (_________ for ____________________,
__________for _______________) or of a group of words
(_______________for____________________, _______________for ____________________,
_______________ for ____________________). Contractions are used chiefly in conversation
and in informal writing. The apostrophes in contractions indicate where letters have been left
out.
EXAMPLES
I am not going.
I’m not going.
You are early.
You’re early.
Betty is studying.
Betty’s studying.
She has left already.
She’s left already.
I had made a mistake.
I’d made a mistake.
Ordinarily, the word not is shortened to n’t and added to a verb without any change in the
spelling of the verb.
11
Is not
Isn’t
Were not
Weren’t
Are not
Aren’t
Has not
Hasn’t
Does not
Doesn’t
Have not
Haven’t
Do not
Don’t
Had not
Hadn’t
Did not
Didn’t
Would not
Wouldn’t
Was not
Wasn’t
Should not
Shouldn’t
EXCEPTIONS
EXCEPTIONS
EXCEPTIONS
EXCEPTIONS
Will not
Won’t
Cannot
Can’t
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
REMEMBER: Do not confuse contractions with possessive pronouns. Study the following lists:
CONTRACTIONS
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
Who’s at bat? (Who is)
Whose bat is that?
It’s roaring. (it is)
Listen to its roar.
You’re too busy. (you are)
Your friend is busy.
There’s a kite. (There is)
That kite is theirs.
They’re tall trees. (they are)
Their trees are tall.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 8. Correcting Sentences by Using apostrophes for Contractions. If any of the following
sentences has a contraction without an apostrophe, write the word and add a correctly placed
apostrophe on the line that follows. If a sentence is correct as it stands, write a C.
1.
“You’ve changed,” she said. ______________________________________________________
2. World War II ended in 45. ________________________________________________________
3. Whos coming to the party? _______________________________________________________
4. “The stores about to close,” said the clerk. ___________________________________________
5. Several stores were closed because of the storm. ______________________________________
6. Well try to make it. ______________________________________________________________
7. Well, try to make it. _____________________________________________________________
8. She gets up at 6 o clock. __________________________________________________________
9. Im very glad to meet you. _________________________________________________________
10. Dont you play chess?_____________________________________________________________
12
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
Exercise 9. Recognizing the Correct Use of Apostrophes. Choose the correct word in
parentheses and circle it.
1.
I think ( your, you’re ) the best.
2. ( Who’s, Whose ) going my way?
3. ( It’s, Its ) your turn.
4. Who is and who has may be shortened to ( who’s, whose ).
5. ( There, Their, They’re ) washing the windows.
6. ( It’s, Its ) is a contraction.
7. ( It’s, Its ) is a possessive pronoun.
8. ( Who’s, Whose ) that masked man?
9. ( Who’s, Whose ) sneakers are these?
10. ( Theirs, There’s ) no end in sight.
13
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
PLURALS
Rule 6 Use _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
referred to as words.
EXAMPLES
Grandmas always tells me to mind my p’s and q’s.
You received three 80’s and two 90’s.
Do not use &’s for and’s.
Exercise 10. Forming the Plurals of Items by using Apostrophes. Correctly form the plural
of each of the following italicized items.
1.
q look like g _____________________________________________________________
2. The late 1960 ____________________________________________________________
3. Put X at the end __________________________________________________________
4. + and - _________________________________________________________________
5. All A and B ______________________________________________________________
6. Pronoun your t ___________________________________________________________
7. No but, please ___________________________________________________________
8. Their oh and ah __________________________________________________________
9. Row of Z ________________________________________________________________
10. Dot your i _______________________________________________________________
14
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources
UNIT 3: APOSTROPHES ENG
Guided Notes IIB
15
KMH- RCSHS
Taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, Chapter 25 and
Supplementary Resources