© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Writers, Form AWriters, Form A

John LanganJohn Langan

Apostrophe

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

• There are two different uses of the apostrophe.apostrophe.

• Use the apostrophe with a contractioncontraction, a shortened form of a word.

• Use the apostrophe to show ownership or possessionpossession.

• A cowboy’s outfit can’t help but stand A cowboy’s outfit can’t help but stand out in a crowd.out in a crowd.

Apostrophe

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

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’vedid + not = didn’tlet + us = let’s

I + have = I’vedid + not = didn’tlet + us = let’s

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

Note:The wordThe word it’s it’s

has two meanings.has two meanings.

Note:The wordThe word it’s it’s

has two meanings.has two meanings.

It isIt isOROR

It hasIt has

It isIt isOROR

It hasIt has

It`s too late to watch aIt`s too late to watch acowboy movie.cowboy movie.(It is too late.)(It is too late.)

It`s too late to watch aIt`s too late to watch acowboy movie.cowboy movie.(It is too late.)(It is too late.)

It`s been years since It`s been years since cowboy songs were cowboy songs were

popular.popular.(It has been years.)(It has been years.)

It`s been years since It`s been years since cowboy songs were cowboy songs were

popular.popular.(It has been years.)(It has been years.)

Contractions

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

• You MUST put the apostrophe where the letters are missing.

• INCORRECT:INCORRECT: – Cowboys do’ntdo’nt ride on the same type of saddles as

your cousin does.

• Correct:Correct:– Cowboys don’tdon’t ride on the same type of saddles as

your cousin does.

The apostrophe shows the “oo”” has been left out.

Understanding Contractions

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

Special SituationThe combination will + not will + not

== won’twon’tThis is an unusual

contraction.

The combination will + not will + not == won’twon’t

This is an unusual contraction.

Many mothers won’t let their sons become cowboys.Many mothers won’t let their sons become cowboys.

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

Four Special Contractions

they’re= they arethey’re= they are

it’s=it is or it hasit’s=it is or it has

you’re=you areyou’re=you are

who’s=who iswho’s=who is

their=belonging to them their=belonging to them

its=belonging to itits=belonging to it

your=belonging to youyour=belonging to you

whose=belonging to whomwhose=belonging to whom

Contractions Possessive Words

Don’t confuse certain tricky contractions with similar

sounding possessive words!

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

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.

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

• For singular nouns ending in -s, it is acceptable to form the possessive by adding -’s oror 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.

Singular Nouns

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

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.

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

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.

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

• Children and adults throughout the world celebrate a variety of holidays.

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

CorrectCorrect

Apostrophe Practice Review

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

• American towns display fireworks as a highlight of patriotic celebrations.

CorrectCorrect

Apostrophe Practice ReviewDirections: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

• My fathers biggest barbecue is held on the Fourth of July.

Incorrect:father’s

Incorrect:father’s

Apostrophe Practice ReviewDirections: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

The United States postal service distributed a stamp commemorating Mexicos Cinco de Mayo.

Incorrect: Mexico’s

Incorrect: Mexico’s

Apostrophe Practice ReviewDirections: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

Many countries celebrate religious events as national holidays.

NOTE:Countries is the plural

form of country. Our country’s most popular

holiday isChristmas. CorrectCorrect

Apostrophe Practice ReviewDirections: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

Saint James Day is a festive day in Spain.

Incorrect: James’

Incorrect: James’

Apostrophe Practice ReviewDirections: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

Germanys and Italys religious celebrations are sometimes similar, even when it comes to food.

Incorrect: Germany’s/

Italy’s

Incorrect: Germany’s/

Italy’s

Apostrophe Practice ReviewDirections: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

Christmas Eve and its traditional meal of seven fishes has a basis in Germany and Italy.

CorrectCorrect

Apostrophe Practice ReviewDirections: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Apostrophe

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

• 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

Incorrect: ’70s/Patrick’s

Apostrophe Practice ReviewDirections: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).