Apostrophe
HMWK
• Period 2,6: GWB 169-172
• Period 1,4: GWB187-190
• All periods: Find 7
examples of the
apostrophe in print
sources or online
sources-these
apostrophes must cover
at least 4 different rules.
• Extra credit for finding an
incorrect use of the
apostrophe.
• Mark the rule for each
picture.
Correct or incorrect?
• Thomas’ cat was always getting lost.
• The word “apostrophe” in
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Greek means “turning away”
or “omission”.
In classical texts, like those of
Shakespeare, the apostrophe
was used to mark dropped
letters as it is today.
In the 17th century, printers
began to use the apostrophe
after a singular noun to show
possession (The girl’s dress).
In the 18th century, printers
began to add it to plural
nouns to show possession
(The girls’ dress.)
One theory is that the
apostrophe was a contraction
of “his” as in Henry-His-wives
(Henry’s wives).
The fabulous, versatile apostrophe’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
Good for many occasions!!!
• 1. Indicates possession
• 2. Indicates time or quantity
• 3. Indicates the omission of letters
• 4. Indicates the omission of numbers in
dates
• 5. Indicates strange, nonstandard English.
• 6. Used in certain surnames ( last names)
• 7. Indicates plurals of words
The Apostrophe’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
1. Indicates Possession
• When you DO NOT
• When you DO NOT
need one
• My
• Your
• his
• Her
• Our
• Its
• Your
• Their
need one
• Mine
• Yours
• His
• Hers
• Its
• ours
• Yours
• Theirs
Tsk, Tsk, Jane Austen
Let’s practice
1. That book is yours / your’s
2. This is someone elses’ / someone else’s book
3. Sarah and Sandy made suggestions for films, but we
could accept neithers / neither’s
4. It is anyone’s / anyones’ guess who will win the election
The rules for using apostrophes for
possessives of proper names that end
in
“s”
are
as
follows:
• If it is a singular name that ends in “s”, you add an
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apostrophe and then “s”.
James’s textbook.
This rule applies to biblical names as well excluding
“Jesus”. Jesus is always indicated by s and then the
apostrophe as in “Jesus’ sins”.
Another exception to this rule would be names from
the ancient world such as “Hercules’ parents”
If the s makes the “iz” sound such as Suzanne
Collins. You use “Collins’ ”
When do I use s’?
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When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
When it’s plural and ends in s.
Also these people:
Jesus’ sins
Hercules’ dad
Suzanne Collins’ heroine
The Apostrophe’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
1. Indicates Possession
To indicate a possessive of a plural noun
• EX: The student’s calculator
• EX: The women’s movement
• EX: The babies’ bottle
• EX: The boys’ hats
Plural
• EX: The group’s essays,
Add an apostrophe or apostrophe and s
as needed
1. Jesus life
2. Andres guitar
3. James engine
4. Suzanne Collins trilogy
5. Katniss arrows
6. Crooks books
7. Sheep field
8. (2)Cats paw prints
9. (2) scientists discussions
10. Boys locker room
11. Reyes tree cutting service
The Apostrophe’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
2. Indicates time or quantity
• EX: In one week’s time
• EX: Two weeks’ notice
• EX: Four yards’ worth
•
WRONG
Insert the apostrophe in the correct place
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A moments hesitation
Ten cents worth
For Annes sake
For the Smiths sake
Three years experience
One years experience
Insert the apostrophe in the correct place
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A moment’s hesitation
Ten cents’ worth
For Anne’s sake
For the Smiths’ sake
Three years’ experience
One year’s experience
The Apostrophe’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
3. Indicates omission of number in dates
• EX: The summer of ‘72.
• EX: Class of ‘11
The Apostrophe’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
4. Indicates omission of letters
• EX: I s’pose, if we hadn’t stopped ‘im she would have
hit ‘im.
• EX: I suppose, if we had not stopped him she would
have hit him.
• Use in dialog to reveal dialect
• Used by Shakespeare to make iambic pentameter
• Used to make contractions of words
The Apostrophe’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
It/ it’s conundrum
• The rules is:
• It’s stands for “it is” or “it has”
• If the sentence does not make
sense if you add the “is” or “has”
then
• It is “its”
Let’s practice
1. Its your turn
2. Its very cold outside
3. Its mine
4. That was its theme.
Let’s practice
1. It’s your turn
2. It’s very cold outside
3. It’s mine
4. That was its theme.
Fabulous Apostrophe
Indicates strange, non-standard English
• Used in literature to demonstrate any
type of accent
• EX:
• Of Mice and Men
• Huckleberry Finn
Fabulous Apostrophe
6. used in surnames
• EX: Scarlett O’Hara
• EX: Patrick O’Neil
Fabulous Apostrophe
7. Indicates plural of letters
• How many i’s are in the word Mississippi?
• The struggling student was now getting A’s on her
essays.
Fabulous Apostrophe
Indicates plurals of words
What are do’s and don’ts ?
There are too many but’s and and’s at the beginning of
sentences these days.
NOTE: Word will underline this in red.
Let’s Practice-add an apostrophe or ‘s
where needed.
• 1. The shrub leaf
• 2. The waitress check
• 3. Hercules strength
• 4. the men suits
• 5. a month(s) vacation
• 6. three dimes worth
• 7. (joint ownership)Will and Martin dog has won a number
of prizes.
• 8. (individual ownership) Susan, Marie, and Alice papers
were graded by the teacher.
• 9. I found somebody house key.
• 10. We are the class of 13.
Insert apostrophe symbol
• Ive had fun in my film class, but now that were studying
director Akira Kurosawas movies, Im enjoying it even
more. He didnt plan to become one of Japans most
import directors. Hed produce fifty years worth of movies
before his death in 1998. its said that his ancestry can be
traced back to ancient Japans saumrai warriors. However,
nobodys certain about this information. Kurosawas best
known for the movies Rashomon, The Seven Samurai,
and Ran. Theyll be considered classics long after weve
seen them. Kurosawa turned two of Shakespeares plays
into movies, and hes also adapted one of Russian author
Fyodor Dostoyevskys novels. Weve watched all three of
them, and they’ve become favorites of ours’. Its obvious
that in the film business, everyones always borrowing
from somebody elses work.
• I’ve had fun in my film class, but now that we’re studying
director Akira Kurosawa’s movies, I’m enjoying it even
more. He didn’t plan to become one of Japan’s most
important directors. He’d produce fifty years’ worth of
movies before his death in 1998. It’s said that his
ancestry can be traced back to ancient Japan’s samurai
warriors. However, nobody’s certain about this
information. Kurosawa’s best known for the movies
Rashomon, The Seven Samurai, and Ran. They’ll be
considered classics long after we’ve seen them.
Kurosawa turned two of Shakespeare’s plays into movies,
and he’s also adapted one of Russian author Fyodor
Dostoyevsky’s novels. We’ve watched all three of them,
and they’ve become favorites of ours. It’s obvious that in
the film business, everyone’s always borrowing from
somebody else’s work.