Grammar Time

Today’s Feature: The Apostrophe

Proper use of Apostrophes

1) To indicate the possessive of a noun

a) The girl’s hat

b) The kid’s phone

If it’s a plural, the apostrophe comes after the s

a) The Simpons’ house

b) The elephants’ cage

To indicate the dropping of letters – as in a contraction

a) 5 o’clock (of the)

b) She can’t do it (cannot)

c) We don’t eat (do not)

To indicate the plural of letters used as letters

How many A’s did you get on your report card?

There are four S’s in Mississippi

To indicate the plural of words cited as words

No if’s and’s or but’s.The apostrophe is not used to indicate

the plural of numbers: Crazy 8sThe apostrophe is not used for the

plural of abbreviations: CDs, DVDs

Activity: Decide where the apostrophes need to be placed in the following sentences.

1. I think its an elephant but its too far away. 2. I cant see trunk. 3. Communication theory was only

beginning to become popular in the 1980s. 4. Charlenes books were due back at the

library last Tuesday. 5. The four companies accounting practices

were not done correctly.

Re-write and fix the following paragraph

Larry and Gus are having a party tonight its going too be awesome, were bringing hummus and pita bread to share with everyone. I shore hope weve got enough. Hummus is vary healthy theres a lot of nutrients in it its not just healthy, its super tasty to.

Larry and Gus are having a party tonight. It’s going to be awesome. We’re bringing hummus and pita bread to share with everyone. I sure hope we’ve got enough. Hummus is very healthy. There’s a lot of nutrients in it. It’s not just healthy, it’s super tasty, too.