ApostrophesGuided Notes

Mr. Watts

1. APOSTROPHES show where LETTERS have been deleted from a word, or APOSTROPHES show POSSESSION or OWNERSHIP.

2. Use an APOSTROPHE in a CONTRACTION to show where LETTERS have been DELETED. 3. EXAMPLES: (Contractions)

can + not = CAN’Tdo + not = DON’Thad + not = HADN’Twould + not = WOULDN’Tshould + not = SHOULDN’Tdid + not = DIDN’T

4. Nouns can be singular or plural. A SINGULAR noun refers to only ONE person, place, thing, or idea. A PLURAL noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. 

5. EXAMPLES:

(SINGULAR) (PLURAL)People PEOPLELion LIONSFoot FEETChild CHILDRENMan MENLeaf LEAVESBook BOOKSBox BOXES

6. Use an apostrophe to make NOUNS show POSSESSION or OWNERSHIP. 7. To make a SINGULAR noun possessive, add an APOSTROPHE and an “S”.

NOTE: The APOSTROPHE always goes BEFORE the “s.”

8. EXAMPLES: (SINGULAR) (SINGULAR

POSSESSIVE)People PEOPLE’S voteLion LION’S tailFoot FOOT’S big toeChild CHILD’S toyMan MAN’S handLeaf LEAF’S colorBook BOOK’S coverBox BOX’S lid

.

9. To make a PLURAL noun possessive, add an APOSTROPHE and an “S,” UNLESS the plural noun already ends in an “S.” In that case, PLACE THE APOSTROPHE after the “S.”

10. EXAMPLES: (SINGULAR) (PLURAL) (PLURAL

POSSESSIVE)People PEOPLE PEOPLE’S votesLion LIONS LIONS’ tailsFoot FEET FEET’S big toesChild CHILDREN CHILDREN’S toysMan MEN MEN’S handsLeaf LEAVES LEAVES’ colorsBook BOOKS BOOKS’ coversBox BOXES BOXES’ lids

11. The same rules apply for HYPHENATED nouns. 12. EXAMPLES: (SING POS) (PLU)(PLU POS)

FATHER-IN-LAW’S FATHERS-IN-LAW FATHERS-IN-LAW’S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S EDITORS-IN-CHIEF EDITORS-IN-CHIEF’S

NOTARY-PUBLIC’S NOTARIES-PUBLIC NOTARIES-PUBLIC’S

13. When making a NAME possessive, add an APOSTROPHE and an “S,” unless the name already ends in an “S.” Then, simply add an APOSTROPHE. 14. EXAMPLES:(POSSESSIVE) (POSSESSIVE)STEPHEN’S CHARLES’RAY’S JESUS’BESSIE’S WILLIAMS’

15. If a COMPOUND noun shows possession, only use an APOSTROPHE with the LAST noun. 16. EXAMPLES:(POSSESSIVE)

Mom and DAD’S cat

Julia and XAVIER’S house

Hugo and SHAYLA’S school

Easy, wasn’t it?