Apostrophe
Sentence Skills: A Workbook for
Writers, Form A
John Langan
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe
• There are two different uses of the
apostrophe.
• Use the apostrophe with a contraction, a
shortened form of a word.
• Use the apostrophe to show ownership or
possession.
• A cowboy’s outfit can’t help but stand
out in a crowd.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Contractions
• When two words are combined to make
one word, an apostrophe is used to show
where letters have been omitted. This is
called a contraction.
• Contractions are reserved for informal
occasions.
I + have = I’ve
did + not = didn’t
let + us = let’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Contractions
Note:
The word it’s
has two meanings.
It is
OR
It has
It`s too late to watch a
cowboy movie.
(It is too late.)
It`s been years since
cowboy songs were
popular.
(It has been years.)
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Understanding Contractions
• You MUST put the apostrophe where the
letters are missing.
• INCORRECT:
– Cowboys do’nt ride on the same type of saddles
as your cousin does.
• Correct:
– Cowboys don’t ride on the same type of saddles
as your cousin does.
The apostrophe shows the “o” has been left out.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Special Situation
The combination will + not
= won’t
This is an unusual
contraction.
Many mothers won’t let their sons become cowboys.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Four Special Contractions
Don’t confuse certain tricky
contractions with similar sounding
possessive words!
Contractions
Possessive Words
they’re= they are
their=belonging to them
it’s=it is or it has
its=belonging to it
you’re=you are
your=belonging to you
who’s=who is
whose=belonging to whom
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Singular Nouns
• Use the apostrophe and an - s to form the
possessive case.
– A cowboy’s work is never done.
– Frederic Remington’s art reflected the
spirit of the wild west.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Singular Nouns
• For singular nouns ending in -s, it is
acceptable to form the possessive by
adding -’s or by adding only an
apostrophe. The writer must be consistent
throughout a piece of writing.
– Columbus’ horses, which he brought
on his second voyage, were the first to
arrive in the new world.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Plural Nouns
• Form the possessive of plural nouns by
adding an apostrophe.
– The wranglers’ gloves protected their hands
from rope burns, cutting reins, and cold.
• Indicate the possessive of plural nouns
not ending in -s by adding an apostrophe
and an -s.
– Men’s clothing often indicates their
profession.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Do Not Use The Apostrophe
• Possessive pronouns and possessive
adjectives do not use apostrophes.
– We can recognize an Appaloosa by its
distinct spots.
– The spurs are ours.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
• Children and
adults throughout
the world
celebrate a variety
of holidays.
Correct
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
• American towns
display fireworks as a
highlight of patriotic
celebrations.
Correct
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
• My fathers biggest
barbecue is held on
the Fourth of July.
Incorrect:
father’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
The United States postal
service distributed a
stamp commemorating
Mexicos Cinco de
Mayo.
Incorrect:
Mexico’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
Many countries
celebrate religious
events as national
holidays.
Correct
NOTE:
Countries is the plural
form of country.
Our country’s most popular
holiday is
Christmas.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
Saint James Day is a
festive day in Spain.
Incorrect:
James’
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
Germanys and Italys
religious celebrations are
sometimes similar, even
when it comes to food.
Incorrect:
Germany’s/
Italy’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
Christmas Eve and its
traditional meal of
seven fishes has a
basis in Germany
and Italy.
Correct
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe Practice Review
Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).
• In the 70s people did not
decorate their homes for
holidays, such as Saint
Patricks Day and
Halloween, to the extent
that they do today.
Incorrect:
’70s/Patrick’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.