This is about the rules in using apostrophes.

1. Use of
Apostrophes
Possessives
Contractions

2. Possessives
Rule 1:
Use an apostrophe to indicate ownership by a
singular noun or proper noun not ending in s.
An apostrophe with an s (‘s) after a proper
noun indicates that the person, place or thing
owns whatever noun follows his or her
name.

3. girl bag
Whose
bag is
this?
It is the ‘s

4. .
boy nose
Whose
nose?
The ‘s
is small.

5. –The lawyer’s money
–The manager’s time
–A staff’s responsibility
–A baby’s cry
–An elephant’s ears

6. –Mary’s lemons
–China’s foreign policy
–SM’s customers
–Era’s daughter
–Rey’s computer

7. –Rafa’s cigarette
–Mark’s work
–Dan’s skills
–Isabel’s hair
–Jerome’s girlfriend

8. Same rule applies to singular common nouns. It
it is easier to remember that if it is a common
noun without an s, you put an apostrophe s
(‘s) to show possession.

9. Rule 2:
For names ending in S, like Jones, Charles, or
Davis, you may just put an apostrophe (‘)
after the s.
Charles’ bathroom
Or you may also put an apostrophe with s (‘s).
Charles’s Law

10. – Lourdes’ shoes
or Lourdes’s shoes
– Davis’s car
or Davis’ car
– Junie Jones’s office
or Junie Jones’ office
– Jules’s research
or Jules’ research

11. But, you never say:
Jesus’s stories or Mosses’s family
It should always be:
Jesus’ stories or Mosses’ family

12. Rule 3
Use apostrophe to indicate ownership by a
plural noun. This can be confusing.
The Smith family is composed of many persons,
so it is plural. Therefore, you refer to them as
the Smiths.

13. Likewise, the Simpson family is composed of
many family members, which makes it plural,
therefore you say “the Simpsons”.

14. Bart Simpson’s Prediction

15. You say, “Bart Simpson’s guest”
But
You say, “The Simpsons’ house”

16. – The boy’s bike
Vs The boys’ bikes
– A guy’s dream
Vs Many guys’ fantasy
– An elephant’s ears
Vs two elephants’ ears

17. What if proper noun ends in s, how do you form
the plural?
Jones is the last name.
The Jones family is called the Joneses.
Therefore, you say, The Joneses’ house or the
Joneses’ dogs.

18. If the plural form of the noun does not end in s,
put an apostrophe plus s.
Men’s shoes
Women’s clothing
Your teeth’s color

19. Knowledge Check
Owner Possession
Country Currency
Countries Currencies
Francis Room
The Williamses Rest house
Andrew Williams Car
Child Behavior
Children Behavior
The Joneses Lawn

20. Rule 4
If there are two nouns showing possession to
the same thing, then you put the apostrophe s
after the second noun.
Era and Arlyne’s office (both go to the same office)
Tin and Rey’s report (both made the report)
Jared and Jem’s savings (both saved)

21. If two nouns owned two different things, you
put the apostrophe s to both nouns.
Era’s and Arlyne’s offices are far from each
other.
Jared’s and Jem’s savings total to 1 million.
Tin’s and Rey’s reports made it to the deadline.

22. Contraction with Pronouns

23. Contraction
It’sthe most populated country in Asia.
It
China is the most populated country in Asia.

24. Its population is the biggest in Asia.
China’s population is the biggest in Asia.

25. Remember that:
It- replaces a noun
Its- used to show possession
It’s- contraction of “it is”

26. Their clothes are still wet.
The boys’ clothes are still wet.
There are clothes in the dryer.
How many dogs are there?

27. They’re lazy to wash their clothes.
They are lazy to wash their clothes.
The boys are lazy to wash the boys’ clothes.

28. It’s careful not to lose its customers.
It is careful not to lose its customers.
SM is careful not to lose SM’s customers.

29. We were happy when they were here.
We’re happy when they were here.
Were- past tense of are
We’re- contraction of we are
Where- used in questions or to refer to a place
“This is where I grew up.”

30. Do not put ‘s to form plurals
An apple
Many apples
Not, many apple’s
The Wilsons are here.
Not, The Wilsons’ are here.

31. One CD, two CDs
Not two CD’s
CD’s is used for possessive
The CD’s surface
(the surface of the cd)

32. Exception for numbers and letters:
The 1970’s
80’s and 90’s
There are 4 i’s in Mississippi.

33. Practice
Figure if the sentence is correct or not.
My mother’s shawl is missing.
Our mother’s groceries are in the car.

34. Which one is correct?
Charle’s bike
Charles’ bike

35. Marla’s and Marby’s mothers are running after
them.
Marla and Marby’s mothers are running after
them.

36. How many Lourdeses are there in this room?
How many Lourdes’ are in this room?
How many Lourdeses’ are in this room?

37. Lourdeses’ clothes are all back.
Lourdes’ clothes are all black.
Lourde’s clothes are all black.

38. Whose bags are these?
It’s theirs.
Its theirs.
It’s there’s.
Its there.
It’s their.

39. There are three people in they’re class who
think that their harassed.
There are three people in their class who think
that they’re harassed.
They’re three people in their class who think
that their harassed.

40. We’re lost in the island were a lot of men were
never found
We’re lost in the island where a lot of men were
never found.
Where lost in the island were a lot of men we’re
never found.

41. Whose family owns this house?
Its the Smith’s house.
It’s the Smith’s house.
It’s the Smiths’ house.
Its the Smithses’ house.
It’s the Smithses’ house.

42. The Simpsons’ dog has its own house.
The Simpsons dog has it’s own house.
The Simpson’s dog has its own house.
The Simpsons’ dog has it’s own house.

43. The childrens’ teeths’ color is yellow.
The children’s teeth’s color is yellow.
The childrens’ teeth’s color is yellow.
The childrens’ teeths color is yellow.