Apostrophes
Apostrophes
1. Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive (ownership) case of a singular noun.
Ann’s book
Charley’s Café
The child’s kite
A boy’s shoe was lost
2. If the singular noun ends in an s, use an apostrophe and an s.
Mrs. Saunders’s class is located in A-5.
A bus’s wheel went flat.
3. When forming the possessive case, add only the apostrophe to plural nouns that end in s. Add the apostrophe and the s to the rare plural nouns that do not already end in an s (child/children, man/men, mouse/mice, deer/deer, etc.).
All of the birds’ nests were destroyed in the hurricane.
One of the bird’s nest was destroyed during the storm.
The boys’ restroom is closed for repairs.
A boy’s shoe is missing.
The child’s book bag is purple.
The children’s department is located in the rear of the store.
The man’s hat is blue.
The men’s restroom is to the right.
A dog’s owner should keep the dog on a leash.
The dogs’ path is behind the apartment.
4. Possessive pronouns such as my, mine, yours, his, her, its, our, ours, theirs, etc. do not require apostrophes.
That is my cookie.
Those are his shoes.
The dog at its bone. (It’s must mean it is. It does not make sense to say the dog ate it is bone, so we use its).
5. Indefinite pronouns such as everybody, nobody, everyone, etc. need an apostrophe and an s when used in the possessive case.
Is this anybody’s sock?
Is everybody’s bag on the bus?
6. In compound words or in word groups showing joint possession, only the last word contains the apostrophe.
Kyle and Cheryl’s wedding
Brother-in-law’s house
7. When two or more people possess something individually, each name contains an apostrophe.
Poe’s and Dahl’s stories were read to the group
8.Use apostrophes in contractions
Don’t, won’t, couldn’t, hasn’t, shouldn’t