Using ApostrophesUsing Apostrophes

Possessive CasePossessive Case

To form the possessive case of most To form the possessive case of most singular nouns, add an apostrophe and an singular nouns, add an apostrophe and an ss. . Ex. Tony’s problem; a bus’s wheel, a dollar’s Ex. Tony’s problem; a bus’s wheel, a dollar’s

worth, Mr. Ross’s jobworth, Mr. Ross’s job

Note:Note:

For a proper name ending in For a proper name ending in ss, add only an , add only an apostrophe if the name has two or more apostrophe if the name has two or more syllables and if the addition of syllables and if the addition of ‘s‘s would make would make the name awkward to pronounce. Ex. West the name awkward to pronounce. Ex. West Indies’ export; Texas’ governor, Mrs. Wiggins’ Indies’ export; Texas’ governor, Mrs. Wiggins’ carcar

For a singular common noun ending in s, add For a singular common noun ending in s, add both an apostrophe and an s if the added s is both an apostrophe and an s if the added s is pronounced as a separate syllable. Ex: the pronounced as a separate syllable. Ex: the actress’s costumes, the dress’s sleeves, the actress’s costumes, the dress’s sleeves, the class’s teacherclass’s teacher

Let’s Try…Let’s Try…Form the possessive case of each of the following nouns. After each Form the possessive case of each of the following nouns. After each

possessive word, give an appropriate noun. possessive word, give an appropriate noun.

Example: Teresa – Teresa’s pencil Example: Teresa – Teresa’s pencil 1.1. babybaby2.2. uncleuncle3.3. yearyear4.4. centcent5.5. classclass6.6. TerryTerry7.7. Ellen Ellen 8.8. mousemouse9.9. Mr. ChanMr. Chan

10.10. Mr. ReynoldsMr. Reynolds11.11. planeplane12.12. bossboss13.13. child child 14.14. Ms. SanchezMs. Sanchez15.15. horsehorse16.16. ParisParis17.17. systemsystem18.18. Mr. JonesMr. Jones

Let’s check…Let’s check…

1.1. baby’s bottlebaby’s bottle2.2. uncle’s houseuncle’s house3.3. year’s eventsyear’s events4.4. cent’s worthcent’s worth5.5. class’s problemclass’s problem6.6. Terry’s friendTerry’s friend7.7. Ellen’s plansEllen’s plans8.8. mouse’s cheesemouse’s cheese9.9. Mr. Chan’s daughterMr. Chan’s daughter

10.10. Mr. Reynolds’ car Mr. Reynolds’ car 11.11. plane’s wingsplane’s wings12.12. boss’s secretaryboss’s secretary13.13. child’s gamechild’s game14.14. Ms. Sanchez’s sonMs. Sanchez’s son15.15. horse’s manehorse’s mane16.16. Paris’s cafesParis’s cafes17.17. system’s problemsystem’s problem18.18. Mr. Jones’s carMr. Jones’s car

Possessive pluralsPossessive plurals

To form the possessive case of a plural nouns To form the possessive case of a plural nouns ending in ending in ss, add only the apostrophe., add only the apostrophe. two birds’ featherstwo birds’ feathers all three cousins’ vacationall three cousins’ vacation the Girl Scouts’ uniformsthe Girl Scouts’ uniforms

*If the plural noun doesn’t end in *If the plural noun doesn’t end in ss, add an apostrophe , add an apostrophe and and ss..

children’s shoeschildren’s shoes women’s beltswomen’s belts

Let’s Try…Let’s Try…Form the possessive case of each of the following plural Form the possessive case of each of the following plural

nouns.nouns.

1.1. menmen

2.2. catscats

3.3. teachersteachers

4.4. enemiesenemies

5.5. princessesprincesses

6.6. dollarsdollars

7.7. elveselves

8.8. cattlecattle

9.9. micemice

10.10. parentsparents

11. the Smiths11. the Smiths

12.12. sheepsheep

13.13. wiveswives

14.14. O’GradysO’Gradys

15.15. runnersrunners

16.16. attorneysattorneys

17.17. alliesallies

18.18. friendsfriends

19.19. womenwomen

20.20. batsbats

Let’s Check…Let’s Check…

1.1. men’s men’s

2.2. cats’cats’

3.3. teachers’teachers’

4.4. enemies’enemies’

5.5. princesses’princesses’

6.6. dollars’dollars’

7.7. elves’elves’

8.8. cattle’s cattle’s

9.9. mice’s mice’s

10.10. parents’parents’

11. The Smiths’11. The Smiths’

12. sheep’s12. sheep’s

13. wives;13. wives;

14. O’Gradys’14. O’Gradys’

15.15. runners’runners’

16.16. attorneys’attorneys’

17.17. allies’allies’

18.18. friends’friends’

19.19. women’swomen’s

20.20. bats’bats’

Possessive Notes ContinuedPossessive Notes Continued

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

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

ContractionsContractions

Use an apostrophe to show where letters, Use an apostrophe to show where letters, numerals, or words have been omitted in a numerals, or words have been omitted in a contraction.contraction. Who is = Who’sWho is = Who’s 1991 = ’911991 = ’91 Of the clock = O’clockOf the clock = O’clock Bill is = Bill’sBill is = Bill’s I had = I’dI had = I’d You all = y’all You all = y’all

Don’t be confused~contractions and Don’t be confused~contractions and possessive pronouns are not the same!possessive pronouns are not the same!

Who’s at bat?Who’s at bat?

It’s roaring.It’s roaring.

You’re too busy!You’re too busy!

There’s a kite.There’s a kite.

They’re tall trees.They’re tall trees.

Whose bat is that?Whose bat is that?

Listen to its roar.Listen to its roar.

Your friend is busy.Your friend is busy.

That kite is theirs.That kite is theirs.

Their trees are tall.Their trees are tall.

PluralsPlurals

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

and ended with .and ended with .comcom’s.’s. His His hihi’s are always cheerful.’s are always cheerful.