Apostrophes - Contraction and Possession
Apostrophes are used to show that one or more letters have been left out of a word (called a contraction) or a number and to show possession.
Contraction
COMMON CONTRACTIONS
- can't
- don't
- didn't
- haven't
- wouldn't
- shouldn't
A contraction is when an apostrophe is used to omit a letter in word.
Example #1
I couldn't find my socks, so I wore sandals instead of shoes.
Reasoning: The word "couldn't" is a contraction because "couldn't" takes
the place of "could not." Therefore, the "o" is left out
of "not" and an apostrophe is put in its place.
Example #2
I was born in '54.
Reasoning: The term '54 stands for "1954." Therefore, an apostrophe
is used in place of the number "19." This is not a contraction; it
represents a number or numbers left out.
Note: When numbers are left out, it is usually for a year, and only the last
two numbers of the year are listed after the apostrophe.
Try the apostrophe exercises using contractions:
Possession
HOT GRAMMAR TIP
To determine if an item is possessive (and, therefore, requires an apostrophe), ask yourself, "Is this somebody's something?" If the answer is "yes," then the word is possessive and requires an apostrophe.
Here are some common examples of how apostrophes are used in possession:
- John's coat
- grandma's scarf
- the cat's toy
- the child's game
- the school's rules
Singular Possession Example
The woman's dress was yellow.
Reasoning: The word "woman's" tells whose dress it is; it requires
an apostrophe. It is singular possessive because the sentence is talking about
only one woman.
Plural Possession Example
The two brothers' bicycles were stolen.
Reasoning: The word "brothers'" tells whom the bicycles belong to
AND that they belong to more than one person; therefore, "brothers'" requires
an apostrophe. It is plural possessive because the sentence is talking about
two brothers; hence, the apostrophe is placed after the "s" in "brothers."