Apostrophes – When to use them.

Possession
Rule Applies to Examples
Add - ‘s. Singular nouns The boy's bike is in the back yard.
James's car was in the accident yesterday.
Plural Nouns These women's hats are sold in this store.
The children's party was a great success.
Indefinite Anyone's guess is as good as mine.
pronouns * Someone's stupidity is going to hurt everyone's
chances for success.
Expressions of He bought a dollar's worth of ice cream.
time, space and Can you spare a moment's time to help me?
amount
Keyboard letters Your f's look like b's when you write.
and symbols Your 3's, 5's and &’s need to be clearer.
Exception Applies to Examples
Add - ‘. Plural nouns or All the pupils' seats were taken.
plural expressions The lawyers' fees came to a million dollars.
of time, space and To finish this job will take four days' work.
amount ending in You are to be here in two hours' time.
‘s’
To the last name Joint Ownership Smith and Johnson's store sells fruit.
only - Add - ‘s. nouns Jim and Jeff's apartment was really dirty.
Add the ‘s to ‘else’ Indefinite Someone else's effort resolved the problem.
not to the pronouns + ‘else’ We should always be aware of somebody else's
indefinite pronoun. pain.
No apostrophe Possessive Your book isn’t here.
Pronouns Everyone's voice will be heard but yours.
Whose idea was it to stay longer?

Contraction
Rule Applies to Examples
The apostrophe A pronoun and a we're it's you've who's hasn't.
shows that a verb or a verb with wasn't haven't couldn't we'd they'll.
letter/number or the word "not" are I'll I'm she'll she'll I'll.
letters/numbers the commonest he's you'll you're isn't hadn't.
have been contractions. shouldn't doesn't there's they've you'd.
omitted. ** Time and Dates I graduated in '58.
He said that he would be here by six o'clock.
Colloquial or I am runnin' this place, and I am not wantin' any
careless speech help.
Irregulars Applies to Examples
“ 3 verbs, shall, will shall not = shan't
and can. will not = won't
cannot = can't
Notes
* Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not point out specifically. They point out
generally. They include such words as another, any, anybody, anyone, anything, both,
each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, many, neither, nobody, none, no one,
one, other, others, some, somebody, and someone.

** Do not confuse the contractions (it's, who's, they're, you're) with the possessive
pronouns (its, whose, their, your).

Exercises

Exercise 1 - Possession
Supply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. Helen mother lives next door to us.

2. The dog growl scared the baby in the neighbour garden.

3. The babies and the children fun ended with the parents return. (joint
ownership)

4. Both Carol and Anne hair is red. (separate ownership)

5. Simon and Claire mother came to the ballet. (joint ownership)

6. The women and girls boots were all mixed together. (separate ownership)

7. The robber hoods covered their faces.

8. The floor was covered with several hens feathers.

9. I could hardly hear the dog bark.

10. The wolves howls came sharply to the deer ears.

 Exercise 2 –Possession
Supply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

11. The dogs stomach was cut from jumping the neighbours fence.

12. Phil and Sues shop will be open at Easter.

13. His uncles niece will be on television with Madonnas band.

14. Could I buy five euros worth of sweets for the kids?
 15. Somebodys boots have been left in the kitchen.

16. Everybody elses help will be appreciated by my mothers family.

17. His clothes are here, but where are yours?

18. The women and girls ages were revealed to everyone.

19. Just two days more work will finish this room.

20. Anns and Marys costumes were the prettiest of everyones.

 Exercise 3 – Contractions
Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

21. I wish everyone had the spirit of 66.

22. I spose that you want your money back

23. His 5s look just like my 6s

24. Its raining again, but its worth it to me.

25. Its mother wont let me see if its okay.

26. Dont do that again because youre a better person than that.

27. Capn, can I bother you for a few minutes?

28. Ive had it with you if you shant help me pass the class.

29. Your mother said your ts looked like ls, and you run your sentences together
with ands.

30. Theyre goin to be here at four oclock.

1. Helen’s mother lives next door to us.

2. The dog’s growl scared the baby in the neighbour’s garden.

3. The babies and the children’s fun ended with the parents’ return. (joint
ownership)

4. Both Carol’s and Anne’s hair is red. (separate ownership)

5. Simon and Claire’s mother came to the ballet. (joint ownership)

6. The women’s and girls’ boots were all mixed together. (separate
ownership)

7. The robber’s hoods covered their faces.

8. The floor was covered with several hens’ feathers.

9. I could hardly hear the dog’s bark.

10. The wolves’ howls came sharply to the deer’s ears.

 Exercise 2 –Possession
Supply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

11. The dog’s stomach was cut from jumping the neighbour’s fence.

12. Phil and Sue’s shop will be open at Easter.

13. His uncle’s neice will be on television with Madonna’s band.

14. Could I buy five euros’ worth of sweets for the kids?

15. Somebody’s boots have been left in the kitchen.

16. Everybody else’s help will be appreciated by my mother’s family.

18. The women’s and girls’ ages were revealed to everyone.

19. Just two days’ more work will finish this room.

20. Ann’s and Mary’s costumes were the prettiest of everyone’s.

 Exercise 3 – Contractions
Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

21. I wish everyone had the spirit of ‘66.

22. I s’pose that you want your money back

23. His 5’s look just like my 6’s

24. It’s raining again, but it’s worth it to me.

25. Its mother won’t let me see if it’s okay.

26. Don’t do that again because you’re a better person than that.

27. Cap’n, can I bother you for a few minutes?

28. I’ve had it with you if you shan’t help me pass the class.

29. Your mother said your t’s looked like l’s, and you run your sentences together
with and’s.

30. They’re goin’ to be here at four o’clock.