Apostrophes

Uses: Contractions and Letters

•Apostrophes are used to form contractions. These are not acceptable in essays.▫Examples: can’t, wouldn’t, I’m

•Apostrophes are also used to form the plurals of letters of the alphabet.▫Examples: p’s, q’s, A’s

Possession•More importantly, apostrophes indicate possession.▫Singular Noun Possessive:poem’s meterdog’s bonebook’s pagesstar’s light

Possession

▫Singular Proper Noun Possessive:Venus’s beautyDickens’s reputationChris’s bicycleMr. James’s ticket

Possession▫Plural Noun (ending in “s”) Possessive:firefighters’ trucksstudents’ backpacksclowns’ unicyclespuppies’ paws

Possession

▫Irregular Plural Noun (not ending in “s”) Possessive:women’s studieschildren’s crayonsmen’s tuxedoshippopotami’s lunches

Check, Please!

Write one sentence that includes the following:apostrophe with a single nounapostrophe with a proper noun

apostrophe with a plural noun (ending in “s”)apostrophe with an irregular plural noun (not ending in “s”)

▫Nouns in a Series (ownership shared) Possessive:

Palmer and Colton’s book on European history

The dog and cat’s owner

Jared and Franklin’s uncle

Nouns in a Series

Nouns in a Series▫Nouns in a Series (ownership not shared) Possessive:

Palmer’s and Colton’s books on European history

The dog’s and cat’s owners

Jared’s and Franklin’s uncles

Check, Please!Correct the following sentences:

Mrs. Jones’ car is in the shop.Joe and Cara’s toes hurt.

The mens’ choir group meets Friday.

Exceptions

• its = possession• The bear liked its honey.

• it’s = it is• It’s not difficult.

Extra▫Do not use an apostrophe to form the plural of an abbreviation or a number:

PhDs, 1990s, fours, TVs, SAT score in the 1400s

’60s