2. To Show Contraction
When you join two
words together, use
an apostrophe to
show where the
letter(s) have been
removed
*Contractions should
not be used in formal
writing.
I have = Iâve
Does not = doesnât
He has/is = Heâs
It is/has = Itâs
Could have = couldâve
Do not = donât
Are not = arenât
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3. Apostrophes to Show Possession
Possession means ownership. We use an
APOSTROPHE to show possession.
Billâs jacket â the jacket belongs to Bill
Susanâs dress â the dress belongs to Susan
The Smithsâ home â the home belongs the Smiths
Jason and Debâs children â The children belong to Jason and
Deb
Jaydenâs and Sophiaâs bikes âJayden has his own bike and
Sophia has her own bike
The item belongs to whatever comes
before the apostrophe.
4. The Smithsâ The
The Smithsâ home
was a dream come
true.
Billâs dog was his
best friend.
5. Singular Possessive Nouns
The possessive form of
a singular noun is an
apostrophe followed by
the letter "s.â
⢠Noun + Apostrophe +
S
Hectorâs homework
Kyokoâs book
Lydiaâs instructor
Lilyâs cat
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7. Plural Possessive Nouns
If the noun is made
plural by adding âs or
âes, put an
apostrophe after the -
s
The boysâ bikes
The studentsâ books
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9. Plural Possessives
If the noun has an
irregular plural form,
add the apostrophe
and an âs
The childrenâs toys
The womenâs restroom
The miceâs tails
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10. Womenâs pursesFor nouns made plural by
an irregular form, add an
apostrophe and an âs
The
plural
form of
woman is
women.
11. Possession with Compound Nouns
When a sentence
indicates joint
ownership in a
compound
construction, the
possessive form is
attached only to the
second noun:
Jason and Debâs son â the
son belong to both Jason and Deb
Michelle and Markâs
dog â the dog belongs to both Mike
and Mark
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12. Possession with Compound Nouns
When a sentence
indicates individual
ownership in a
compound
construction, this is
indicated by a double
possessive
Kyleâs and Jessicaâs
microscopes
Kenâs and Tomâs suits
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13. Singular Singular Possessive Plural Plural Possessive
Boy Boyâs Boys Boysâ
Mary Maryâs Marys Marysâ
Boss Bossâs Bosses Bossesâ
Nurse Nurseâs Nurses Nursesâ
Sister-in-law Sister-in-lawâs Sisters-in-law Sisters-in-lawâs
Child Childâs Children Childrenâs
Editor-in-chief Editor-in-chiefâs Editors-in-chief Editors-in-chiefâs
Attorney general Attorney generalâs Attorney generals Attorney generalsâ
Woman Womanâs Women Womenâs
Teacher Teacherâs Teachers Teachersâ
Daughter Daughterâs Daughters Daughtersâ
Singular, Singular Possessive, Plural, and
Plural Possessive Forms