The document discusses two main uses of apostrophes: forming contractions and showing possession. It provides examples of common contractions like don't and wouldn't which show where letters have been omitted. For possession, an apostrophe is added to the end of a noun to show it belongs to someone, like John's car. There are two rules for forming possessives - add only an apostrophe if the noun already ends in s, otherwise add 's. The document also briefly mentions a few other less common uses of apostrophes.

2. 2 Main Uses of Apostrophes: To form a contraction: don ’ t can ’ t wouldn ’ t To show possession John ’ s car the boy ’ s bike the workers ’ contract

3. Main Use #1: Contraction In a contraction, two words are combined into one shorter form. you + are you ’ re The apostrophe almost always marks where a letter or letters have been taken out to form the new word.

4. Think of a contraction as the result of two words having a head-on collision. During the collision, one or more letters get lost. Look how the words do and not are joined to create don’t . do + not

5. When the words collide, the o is ejected. donot

6. The apostrophe goes to mark where the letter o has been don ’ t

7. Common Contractions: aren’t = are not can’t = can not didn’t = did not he’s = he is I’d = I would, I had it’s = it is let’s = let us she’ll = she will we’ve = we have would’ve = would have you’re = you are NOTE: The only contraction that doesn’t follow this rule is won’t , which means will not .

8. Main Use #2: Possession Possessives are words used to show ownership or belonging. Like contractions, they’re also formed with the apostrophe. Example: Professor Walker’s laptop the laptop belongs to Professor Walker Professor Walker owns the laptop.

9. Notice that the apostrophe in possessive words does NOT stand for an omitted letter like it does in contractions. __________________________ contraction: don’t (missing o ) possessive: dog’s tail (no missing letter, the tail belongs to the dog)

10. 2 rules for adding an apostrophe to form a possessive If a word ends in –s already, add only the apostrophe: The students ’ backpacks were stolen from the classroom during the break. If the word does not end in –s, add ’ s : The instructor ’ s parking permit was stolen.

11. ALERT: Some words are possessive without the apostrophe. These words are the possessive pronouns : my, mine its his her, hers your, yours our, ours their, theirs whose Tip: Be careful not to confuse it’s and its . it’s = it is

12. 3 Other Uses for the Apostrophe 1) Used to indicate numbers that have been omitted. 1995 ‘ 95 2) Used to show missing letters in slang or informal speech going goin ’ 3) Can be used to form the plural of some numbers or letters to prevent misreading. A ’ s 0 ’ s (plural of zero) 1950s ( NO apostrophe )

13. Test Your Understanding by Completing the Directed Learning Activity TIP : You may want to refer to this PowerPoint again while you’re completing the activity.