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Apostrophes

Apostrophes. Spelling with possessives and contractions. Apostrophes. Apostrophes are used to show omissions of letters (contractions) and for possession. Contractions.

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Apostrophes

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  1. Apostrophes Spelling with possessives and contractions

  2. Apostrophes • Apostrophes are used to show omissions of letters (contractions) and for possession.

  3. Contractions • A contraction is used when we join two words, leaving out one or two letters. We put an apostrophe in the place of the missing letter(s): • did not – didn’t • should not – shouldn’t

  4. Possession: • Singular nouns: To show possession, we add ‘s • The coat belonging to the girl – the girl’s coat • The shoes belonging to Kelly – Kelly’s shoes • This is true even when the singular form ends in s. • The car belonging to Charles - Charles’s car • The car belongs to Bill Jones - Bill Jones‘s house • (Note:  Some instructors say you may drop the possessive s when a singular word happens to end in an s.  However, in some contexts dropping the possessive s when the word in singular would be considered wrong.  The safer option is to keep the possessive s when a singular noun happens to end in an s.)

  5. Possession: • Plural nouns: When there is a plural which ends in an s, add only an apostrophe to show possession. • The coat belongs to the girls – the girls’  coats • The house belongs to the Joneses- the Joneses’  house • For words that are plural but do not end in an s, add ’s. • The rights of women- women’s rights • The department for children - children’s department

  6. Problems with apostrophes: • There are some uses of the apostrophe which can be troublesome and confusing. •  Do not use an apostrophe to make a noun plural (more than one). • Incorrect:    The dog’s ran in the yard.        • Correct:       The dogs ran in the yard. • Incorrect:     These book’s are on sale.          • Correct:        These books are on sale.

  7. Problems with apostrophes: • Do not use apostrophes to form the plural of an abbreviation or number. • Incorrect:    MA’s • Correct:       MAs • Incorrect:  in the 1800’s          • Correct: in the 1800s • Note: If you are using the years in a century as an adjective, the apostrophe for possession is appropriate, but the rule for possession with plurals ending in s is applied:  the 1960s’ Civil Rights Movement.

  8. Problems with apostrophes: • Do not confuse contractions with similar sounding words: • Its and It’s: It’s is the contraction for it is or it has. • It is a beautiful day.                          It’s a beautiful day. •  It has been nice to know you.      It’s been nice to know you. •  Use its to show possession: his, hers, theirs, yours, ours, its. • My car needs to have its brakes checked. •  Its wheel just came off.

  9. Problems with apostrophes: • Who’s and Whose: • Who’s is the contraction for who is. •   Who  is coming to the party?    Who’s coming to the party? •   Who is your favorite singer?    Who’s your favorite singer? • Use whose to show possession: his, hers, theirs, yours, ours, its. •   Whose car alarm keeps going off?   It is his alarm. •    Whose music do you like best?  I like yours the best.

  10. Problems with apostrophes: • They’re, Their, and There: • They’reis the contraction for they are. •   They are not invited.                      They’re not invited. •   They are on the shelf.                     They’re on the shelf. • Use their to show possession: his, hers, theirs, yours, ours, its. •    They forgot their keys. •     Their keys are on the table. •   There is a location word. Notice how the word here is in there. •     She was always there for me. •     Put them over there. 

  11. Problems with apostrophes: • Would’ve, Could’ve,  Should’ve: • These are contractions with the word  have. Because the ‘ve sounds like of, many people the mistake of writing would of instead of would’ve. • Incorrect:   I would of asked.      • Correct: I would’ve asked. • Incorrect:   He should of gone.     • Correct:   He should’ve gone.                 • Incorrect:   She could of called.   • Correct:  She could’ve called. 

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