Apostrophe

Sentence Skills: A Workbook for

Writers, Form A
John Langan
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe
• There are two different uses of the apostrophe.
• Use the apostrophe with a contraction,
contraction a
shortened form of a word.
• Use the apostrophe to show ownership or
possession.
possession
• A cowboy’s outfit can’t help but stand
out in a crowd.

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Contractions
• When two words are combined to make one
word, an apostrophe is used to show where
letters have been omitted. This is called a
contraction.
• Contractions are reserved for informal
occasions.
II ++ have
have == I’ve
I’ve
did
did ++ not
not ==didn’t
didn’t
let
let ++ us
us == let’s
let’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Contractions

It`s
It`stoo
toolate
lateto
towatch
watchaa
Note: cowboy
cowboymovie.
movie.
The word it’s (It
(Itisistoo
toolate.)
late.)
has two meanings.
It is It`s
It`sbeen
beenyears
yearssince
since
OR cowboy
cowboysongs
songswere
were
It has popular.
popular.
(It
(Ithas
hasbeen
beenyears.)
years.)

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Understanding Contractions
• You MUST put the apostrophe where the letters
are missing.
• INCORRECT:
– Cowboys do’nt ride on the same type of saddles as your
cousin does.
• Correct:
– Cowboys don’t ride on the same type of saddles as your
cousin does.
The apostrophe shows the “o” has been left out.

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Special Situation
The combination will + not
= won’t
This is an unusual
contraction.

Many mothers won’t let their sons become cowboys.

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Four Special Contractions

Don’t confuse certain tricky
contractions with similar sounding
possessive words!

Contractions Possessive Words

they’re= they are their=belonging to them
it’s=it is or it has its=belonging to it
you’re=you are your=belonging to you

who’s=who is whose=belonging to whom

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Singular Nouns
• Use the apostrophe and an - s to form the
possessive case.
– A cowboy’s work is never done.
– Frederic Remington’s art reflected the
spirit of the wild west.

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Singular Nouns
• For singular nouns ending in -s, it is
acceptable to form the possessive by
adding -’s or by adding only an
apostrophe. The writer must be
consistent throughout a piece of writing.
– Columbus’ horses, which he brought
on his second voyage, were the first to
arrive in the new world.
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Plural Nouns
• Form the possessive of plural nouns by
adding an apostrophe.
– The wranglers’ gloves protected their hands
from rope burns, cutting reins, and cold.
• Indicate the possessive of plural nouns not
ending in -s by adding an apostrophe and
an -s.
– Men’s clothing often indicates their profession.

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Do Not Use The Apostrophe

• Possessive pronouns and possessive
adjectives do not use apostrophes.
– We can recognize an Appaloosa by its
distinct spots.
– The spurs are ours.

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

• Children and adults

throughout the
world celebrate a
variety of holidays.

Correct

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

• American towns display

fireworks as a highlight
of patriotic celebrations.

Correct

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

• My fathers biggest
barbecue is held on
the Fourth of July.

Incorrect:
father’s

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

The United States postal

service distributed a
stamp commemorating
Mexicos Cinco de Mayo.

Incorrect:
Mexico’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Many countries
celebrate religious
events as national NOTE:
Countries is the plural
holidays.
form of country.
Our country’s most popular
holiday is
Correct Christmas.

Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Saint James Day is a

festive day in Spain.

Incorrect:
James’
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Germanys and Italys religious

celebrations are sometimes
similar, even when it comes to
food.

Incorrect:
Germany’s/
Italy’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

Christmas Eve and its

traditional meal of
seven fishes has a basis
in Germany and Italy.

Correct
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Apostrophe

Apostrophe Practice Review

Directions: Identify as correct or incorrect (Click to see answer.).

• In the 70s people did not decorate

their homes for holidays, such as
Saint Patricks Day and Halloween,
to the extent that they do today.

Incorrect:
’70s/Patrick’s
Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E
© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.