Using Apostrophes

1. Using Apostrophes

2. Possessive Case • To form the possessive case of most singular nouns, add an apostrophe and an s. • Ex. Tony’s problem; a bus’s wheel, a dollar’s worth, Mr. Ross’s job

3. Note: • For a proper name ending in s, add only an apostrophe if the name has two or more syllables and if the addition of ‘s would make the name awkward to pronounce. Ex. West Indies’ export; Texas’ governor, Mrs. Wiggins’ car • For a singular common noun ending in s, add both an apostrophe and an s if the added s is pronounced as a separate syllable. Ex: the actress’s costumes, the dress’s sleeves, the class’s teacher

4. baby uncle year cent class Terry Ellen mouse Mr. Chan Mr. Reynolds plane boss child Ms. Sanchez horse Paris system Mr. Jones Let’s Try…Form the possessive case of each of the following nouns. After each possessive word, give an appropriate noun. Example: Teresa – Teresa’s pencil

5. baby’s bottle uncle’s house year’s events cent’s worth class’s problem Terry’s friend Ellen’s plans mouse’s cheese Mr. Chan’s daughter Mr. Reynolds’ car plane’s wings boss’s secretary child’s game Ms. Sanchez’s son horse’s mane Paris’s cafes system’s problem Mr. Jones’s car Let’s check…

6. Possessive plurals • To form the possessive case of a plural nouns ending in s, add only the apostrophe. • two birds’ feathers • all three cousins’ vacation • the Girl Scouts’ uniforms *If the plural noun doesn’t end in s, add an apostrophe and s. • children’s shoes • women’s belts

7. men cats teachers enemies princesses dollars elves cattle mice parents 11. the Smiths sheep wives O’Gradys runners attorneys allies friends women bats Let’s Try…Form the possessive case of each of the following plural nouns.

8. men’s cats’ teachers’ enemies’ princesses’ dollars’ elves’ cattle’s mice’s parents’ 11. The Smiths’ 12. sheep’s 13. wives; 14. O’Gradys’ runners’ attorneys’ allies’ friends’ women’s bats’ Let’s Check…

9. Possessive Notes Continued • Generally, in compound words, names of organizations and businesses, and words showing joint possession, only the last word is possessive in form. • compound words: community board’s meeting • Organizations: United Fund’s drive • Businesses: Berkeley Milk Company’s trucks • Joint Possession: Peggy and Lisa’s tent

10. When two or more persons possess something individually, each of their names is possessive in form. • Example: • Mrs. Martin’s and Mrs. Blair’s cars • Amy’s and Danielle’s tennis rackets

11. Contractions • Use an apostrophe to show where letters, numerals, or words have been omitted in a contraction. • Who is = Who’s • 1991 = ’91 • Of the clock = O’clock • Bill is = Bill’s • I had = I’d • You all = y’all 

12. Who’s at bat? It’s roaring. You’re too busy! There’s a kite. They’re tall trees. Whose bat is that? Listen to its roar. Your friend is busy. That kite is theirs. Their trees are tall. Don’t be confused~contractions and possessive pronouns are not the same!

13. Plurals • To prevent confusion, use an apostrophe and an s to form the plurals of lowercase letters, some capital letters, numerals, symbols, and words that are referred to as words. • I got A’s on both tests. • The 1’s in this exercise look like l’s. • Two different Web site addresses began with ##’s and ended with .com’s. • His hi’s are always cheerful.