Apstrophes

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Singular Possession

To show that something belongs to one person or thing, add an apostrophe and an “s” (‘s) to the end of the noun.

For most singular nouns, add 's:

• The dog’s bone
• The teacher’s desk

For singular nouns ending in s, you can add either 's or just an apostrophe ('):

• Charles’s car or Charles’ car

Plural Possession

To show that something belongs to more than one person or thing, add an apostrophe after the s at the end of the plural noun.

Examples:

• The cats’ toys
• The teachers’ lounge

Rules:

• For most plural nouns, add only an apostrophe after the s:
• The dogs’ bones
• The students’ books
• For irregular plural nouns that do not end in s, add 's:
• The children’s playground
• The men’s restroom

Apostrophes in Contractions

Apostrophes are used to indicate the omission of letters in contractions.

Examples:

• Do not → Don’t
• I am → I’m
• They are → They’re

Common Contractions:

• Cannot → Can’t
• It is → It’s
• We are → We’re
• You are → You’re

Apostrophes for Plurals (Rare Cases)

Apostrophes are occasionally used to form the plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols to avoid confusion.

Examples:

• Mind your p’s and q’s.
• There are two 7’s in 77.
• Add more &’s to the list.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Its vs. It’s

• “Its” is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to it.”
• “It’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.”

Examples:

• The dog chased its tail. (possessive)
• It’s going to rain today. (contraction)

Your vs. You’re

• “Your” is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to you.”
• “You’re” is a contraction of “you are.”

Examples:

• Is this your book? (possessive)
• You’re going to love this movie. (contraction)

Practice Exercises

1. Identify the Correct Use of Apostrophes

Choose the correct form of the word in parentheses:

• (Its/It’s) raining outside.
• She found (the cats/the cat’s) toy under the couch.
• (Your/You’re) going to need an umbrella.
• The (teachers’/teacher’s) meeting is at 3 PM.
• They said (its/it’s) (theirs/their’s).

2. Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences by adding apostrophes where necessary:

1. The dogs bone was buried in the yard.
2. I cant believe its already time to go.
3. Shes the best player on the team.
4. The childrens toys were scattered everywhere.
5. He doesnt know where hes going.

3. Create Sentences

Create sentences using the following words, correctly applying apostrophes:

1. Teacher’s
2. They’re
3. Men’s
4. It’s
5. Can’t

Writing Practice

Write a short paragraph about a typical day, using possessive apostrophes and contractions correctly.

Example:

• It’s a busy day at the office. John’s desk is cluttered with papers, and Sarah’s computer is making strange noises. They’re both trying to finish their projects before the deadline. The manager’s meeting is scheduled for 2 PM, and everyone’s preparing their reports. Despite the chaos, there’s a sense of camaraderie in the team.

Answer Key

Section 5: Practice Exercises

1. (It’s) raining outside.
2. She found (the cat’s) toy under the couch.
3. (You’re) going to need an umbrella.
4. The (teachers’) meeting is at 3 PM.
5. They said (it’s) (theirs).

2. Rewrite the Sentences

1. The dog’s bone was buried in the yard.
2. I can’t believe it’s already time to go.
3. She’s the best player on the team.
4. The children’s toys were scattered everywhere.
5. He doesn’t know where he’s going.

3. Create Sentences

1. The teacher’s lesson plan was very detailed.
2. They’re going to the concert tonight.
3. The men’s locker room was just cleaned.
4. It’s a beautiful day outside.
5. I can’t believe we won the game.

This workbook provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and practicing the use of apostrophes. Use it to improve your grammar skills and ensure your writing is clear and accurate.

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kuksha

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