Apostrophes

‘

Part I: Possessive Case

• The possessive case of a noun or a pronoun shows ownership or possession.

Heidi’s comb no one’s fault

his jacket two weeks’ vacationour dog my stepbrother

• To form the possessive case of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and an s.

a student’s grant Tanaka’s store

the child’s toy Tess’s painting

• A proper noun ending in –s may take only an apostrophe to form the possessive case if adding an –‘s would make the name awkward to say.

the Netherlands’ climate

Ms. Andrews’ class

Exercises

• Kenyans celebrate 1963 as the year of their countrys independence.

• Soon that young nations athletes were setting records in international sports.

• Leading Kenyas world-class distance runners was Kipchoge Keino.

• Keino increased his endurance by running many miles in his homelands mountains.

• In 1965, he burst into sports top ranks by setting world records for both the 3,000-meter and the 5,000-meter races.

• Training in the mountains helped Keino win a gold medal at Mexico Citys 1968 Olympics.

• His record in that years 1500-meter race stood until 1984.

• In fact, the Kenyan teams runners took home a total of eight medals in 1968.

• In the 1972 Olympics, Keinos performance won him a second gold medal, this time for the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

• A silver medal in the 1,500-meter race marked his careers remarkable completion.

• His victories won Keino the worlds praise and set new standards for all runners.

• To form the possessive case of a plural noun that does not end in s, add an apostrophe and an s.

geese’s feathers men’s clothing

children’s books feet’s bones

• To form the possessive case of a plural noun ending in s, add only the apostrophe.

boxes’ lids ten minutes’ time

beetles’ shells the Ness’ address

• Note: in general, you should not use an apostrophe to form the plural of a noun.

-Two boy’s left their books here.

-Two boys left their books here. C

Exercises

• Wild creatures survival depends on their ability to adapt.

• Animals ways of dealing with cold are fascinating.

• At night, chickadees feathers are fluffed over the soft down next to their skin.

• In addition, the birds breathing rates and heartbeats slow, and their body temperatures fall, saving energy.

• Deers winter coats, made of hollow hairs filled with air, keep body heat from escaping.

• Soft undercoats of fine hair are many animals thermal underwear.

• Squirrels tails flatten against their backs and necks, keeping them warm when they leave their nests.

• The picture on the right shows how red foxes tails are used as muffs curled around their heads while they sleep.

• On grouses toes are comb-like structures that make walking in snow easier.

• In cold weather, fur grows on the bottom of snowshoe hares feet for protection.

• Some wild creatures survival during freezing temperatures and snow depends on traits like these.

Rewriting Possessives

• the speeches of the politicians

______________________________________• the books of the children

______________________________________• the prize of the winner

______________________________________• the bed of the kittens

______________________________________• the home of my friend

______________________________________

• Possessive Practice Worksheet

• Do not use an apostrophe with possessive personal pronouns

-Is this pencil yours or mine?

-Our apartment is smaller than theirs.

-Her enchiladas are spicier than his.

To form the possessive case of many indefinite pronouns, add an apostrophe an an s.

-either’s topic

-everyone’s favorite

-somebody’s notebook

Exercises

• the speeches of everybody___________________________________• the fault of him___________________________________• the answer of no one___________________________________• the album of someone___________________________________• the guess of me___________________________________

• the job of neither___________________________________• the color of something___________________________________• the deal of anyone___________________________________• the sweaters of them___________________________________• the notebook of you___________________________________

• Workbook p. 127-128

Part II: Contractions

• Use an apostrophe to show where letters, numerals, or words have been left out in a contraction.

• A contraction is a shortened form of a word, a numeral, or a group of words. The apostrophe in a contraction shows where letters, numerals, or words have been left out.

Common Contractions

I am I’m

they have they’ve

1999 ‘99

here is here’s

let us let’s

you are you’re

of the clock o’clock

she is she’s

movie is movie’s

Bill has Bill’s

he would he’d

you will you’ll

The word not can be shortened to n’t and added to a verb.

is notisn’t

has not hasn’t

are not aren’t

have not haven’t

does not doesn’t

had not hadn’t

do not don’t

should not shouldn’t

was not wasn’t

would not wouldn’t

were not weren’t

could not couldn’t

Do not confuse contractions with possessive pronouns.

Contractions Possessive Pronouns

It’s (it is) raining.It’s (it has) been raining.

Its tires are flat.

Who’s (who is) your coach?Who’s (who has) been in my room?

Whose watch is this?

You’re (you are) welcome. Your sister won.

They’re (they are) late. Their house is next door.

There’s (there is) the bell. That car is theirs.

Exercises

• Well be leaving soon.• Youve been a big help.• Whose umbrella is this? • Were having a fund-raiser for the

homeless.• I cant find my skateboard.• He promised hed wear his seat belt.• Lets get tickets to see the concert.

• Its time to leave for the party.• Its wings are painted blue.• Ill wash the car tomorrow morning.• Daniel asked the decoration committee whos

going to be in charge.• Isnt this the book we need?• Remember to give your dog fresh water.• Stephanie said shell bring a cardboard box from

home.

Part III: Plurals

• Use an apostrophe and an s to form the plurals of letters, numerals, and symbols, and of words referred to as words.

-I think the word Mississippi has four i’s, four s’s, and two p’s.

-Your 1’s and 7’s look alike.-You wrote +’s instead of x’s in these math

problems.-Try not to use so many you know’s when

you talk.

Exercises

• -9 _____• -I _____• -# _____• -14 _____• -B _____• -$ _____• -t _____• -A _____

• Workbook p129-130