POSESSIVES & PLURALS

It’s and Its

It’s= It is It’s snowing again today.

Its= posessive I hate Utah and its indecisive weather!

They’re—their—there

They’re=they are They’re never right about the weather in

the forecasts in Utah. Their—possessive!

I always listen to their crazy predictions even though they’re usually wrong.

There—location Hawaii’s forecast looks good right now;

maybe I’ll move there.

ApostrophesIs that plural or possessive?

How we do it

Is this our native language?

I hope not

Those are some rich bananas

Apostrophes = Possession

Most apostrophes show possession. Do not confuse making something possessive with making it plural.

Rules for plurals to make a word not ending in s plural, add “s” to make a word ending in s plural, add “es”

Rule 1: Singular = ‘s

If the word is singular add an ‘s at the end.

Those are Alex’s toys.Don’t take the kid’s bike.

No exceptions! (mostly…)

You even add an ‘s if the person’s name ends in an s.* There is Chris’s house. That is Mr. Andrus’s classroom That is my brother’s room (one

brother)

Rule Two: Plural no s = ‘s

If the word is plural and doesn’t end in s, add an apostrophe and an s. (just like rule 1)

This is the children’s toy car She is in the women’s restroom. The men’s locker room stinks.

Rule Three: Plural with S = ‘ only

If the word is plural and ends in an s, only add the apostrophe AFTER the final s.

That is the kids’ toy car That is my brothers’ room (multiple

brothers)

Rule four: Contractions

Use an apostrophe to indicate contractions (omissions of letters) It’s raining outside.

▪ It is raining outside. We’re going to have a party.

▪ We are going to have party. Didn’t he know it was time to start?

▪ Did not he know it was time to start? That’ll be hard to do.

▪ That will be hard to do.

Common Mistakes #1: Pronouns = NO APOSTROPHES

Trying to use apostrophes for possessive pronouns.

The car with the flat tire is our’s. (incorrect)

The car with the flat tire is ours.

Is that dog your’s? (incorrect) Is that dog yours?

Most common mistake – It’s versus Its

Common Mistakes #2: Compound Subjects

Compound subjects (joint possession) Tuesday is Tom and Jane’s anniversary. Rodger, Ed, and Tommy’s plan is the

best.

Compound subjects (individual possession) Rodger’s, Ed’s, and Tommy’s cars were

stolen. Tom’s and Sally’s clothes were ruined.

Apostrophe and run-on PracticeFor the following question, insert apostrophes when necessary

Not all sentences will need an apostrophe.Some sentences will need more than one apostrophe. Fix all of the run-on sentences.

1. The suns warmth makes me feel happy to be alive. 2. Spring is wonderful, its my favorite season.3. He gave her flowers, shes not impressed.4. Most flowers petals are soft and velvety.5. Chocolate Easter bunnies are delicious I get them every

year6. Theres more than one way to enjoy the beautiful weather. 7. Suzys brothers like to play golf.8. The dogs happy that its bone was found after the snow

melted. 9. We had to leave The Smiths children were disappointed.

Fragments

A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb (Bob ran). This makes it independent.

Most common cause of fragments is including a word that creates a dependent clause (when, whenever, where, wherever, because, if, unless, until, while, as, although, as if, as though, even if, even though, even when, soon after, no sooner)

Examples

Because Alice ran. Whenever I go. If she eats. Although I want to.

Run-ons & Fragments

Fragments

What are they? What is the name of the words that cause them?

Dependent marker words! Here are examples: after, before, once, unless,

which, although, even though, since, until, while, as if, so, that, when, who, as long as, how, than, where, whoever, because, now, that, that, whether, why

How can we fix fragments? Name the two ways. GET RID OF THE DEPENDENT MARKER WORD. FINISH THE THOUGHT.

EXAMPLES: use whiteboards

1. Some parents worry. 2. Hoping to get there on time.3. It can kill you. 4. Valentine’s Day is one of these holidays.5. When I first got my car.6. After I decided that I wanted floor mats.7. Wearing extra large pants is a current fad.8. The dentist that I go to. 9. The watch which I got fixed has just stopped

working.10.For example, we had no hot water in the morning.

Get into groups to do a practice.

Answer the following question for #1-10 in a group.

a) Is the word a fragment?b) What is the subject?c) What is the main verb?d) Which word makes it a fragment?

ANSWERS

1. S: Casey and I. V : trapped. Not a fragment.2. S: baby. V: none. F: “that.” (“Won” is part of a description because it follows

“that,” and “shouting” would need “was” in front of it to be a main verb.) Fragment. Revision: “The team that won the game, shouting loudly, piled into the bus.”

3. S: the book. No verb. F: “which” ( “Lent” is part of a description because it follows “which.”) Fragment. Revision: She lent the book to the new student in the class.”

4. S: they. V: didn’t know. F: “because.” Fragment. Revision: “Because they didn’t know any better, they left the car running.”

5. S: She. V: was famous. Not a fragment.6. S: none. No verb. Fragment. Revision: “He was bitter about having been left

behind and exhausted from walking home.”7. S: dog. V: sat. (Same as “a yellow dog sat under the tree.”) Not a fragment.8. S: none. No verb. Fragment. Revision: “To tell the absolute truth, I disagree.”9. S: none. No verb. Fragment. Revision: “Inside the crypt, hiding in a shadowy

corner, he wept.”10. S: none. No verb. Fragment. Possible revisions: “She was running as fast as she

could to the store,” or “Running as fast as she could to the store, she tripped over the curb.”