Apostrophes

Apostrophes

To Show Contraction

When you join two words together, use an apostrophe to show where the letter(s) have been removed

*Contractions should not be used in formal writing.

I have = I’veDoes not = doesn’tHe has/is = He’sIt is/has = It’sCould have = could’veDo not = don’tAre not = aren’t

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Apostrophes to Show Possession

Possession means ownership. We use an APOSTROPHE to show possession.

Bill’s jacket – the jacket belongs to BillSusan’s dress – the dress belongs to SusanThe Smiths’ home – the home belongs the SmithsJason and Deb’s children – The children belong to Jason and DebJayden’s and Sophia’s bikes –Jayden has his own bike and Sophia

has her own bike

The item belongs to whatever comes before the apostrophe.

The Smiths’ The The Smiths’ home was a dream come

true.

Bill’s dog was his best friend.

Singular Possessive Nouns

The possessive form of a singular noun is an apostrophe followed by the letter "s.“• Noun + Apostrophe +

S

Hector’s homeworkKyoko’s bookLydia’s instructorLily’s cat

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Becky’s purse—apostrophe shows ownership

Plural Possessive Nouns

If the noun is made plural by adding –s or –es, put an apostrophe after the -s

The boys’ bikes

The students’ books

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Girls’ pursesLadies’ purses

For nouns made plural by adding an s, add only an apostrophe at the end.

Plural Possessives

If the noun has an irregular plural form, add the apostrophe and an ‘s

The children’s toysThe women’s restroomThe mice’s tails

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Women’s pursesFor nouns made plural by an irregular form, add an

apostrophe and an –s

The plural

form of woman is women.

Possession with Compound Nouns

When a sentence indicates joint ownership in a compound construction, the possessive form is attached only to the second noun:

Jason and Deb’s son – the son belong to both Jason and Deb

Michelle and Mark’s dog – the dog belongs to both Mike and Mark

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Possession with Compound Nouns

When a sentence indicates individual ownership in a compound construction, this is indicated by a double possessive

Kyle’s and Jessica’s microscopes

Ken’s and Tom’s suits

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Singular Singular Possessive Plural Plural PossessiveBoy Boy’s Boys Boys’

Mary Mary’s Marys Marys’

Boss Boss’s Bosses Bosses’

Nurse Nurse’s Nurses Nurses’

Sister-in-law Sister-in-law’s Sisters-in-law Sisters-in-law’s

Child Child’s Children Children’s

Editor-in-chief Editor-in-chief’s Editors-in-chief Editors-in-chief’s

Attorney general Attorney general’s Attorney generals Attorney generals’

Woman Woman’s Women Women’s

Teacher Teacher’s Teachers Teachers’

Daughter Daughter’s Daughters Daughters’

Singular, Singular Possessive, Plural, and Plural Possessive Forms