Lesson 414 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

In writing conversation, use apostrophes to show letters omitted in colloquial or careless speech.

Example: He prob'ly will be playin' football.

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

1. We are all goin with you tonight.

2. I am runnin this place, and I am not wantin any help.

3. I do not want help from you r anyone else.

4. This souwestern will be a bad storm.

5. I blieve I will be going now.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. We are all goin' with you tonight.

2. I am runnin' this place, and I am not wantin' any help.

3. I do not want help from you 'r anyone else.

4. This sou'western will be a bad storm.

5. I b'lieve I will be going now.

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Lesson 413 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Use the apostrophe with the contraction o'clock (of the clock) and before the last two digits of a year. Example: I was born in '40. (the year 1940)

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

1. I graduated in 58.

2. He said that he would be here by six oclock.

3. In 41 we had the day of infamy.

4. The whole thing was over by eight oclock in 85.

5. Santa still had not come by five oclock in the morning.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. I graduated in '58.

2. He said that he would be here by six o'clock.

3. In '41 we had the day of infamy.

4. The whole thing was over by eight o'clock in '85.

5. Santa still had not come by five o'clock in the morning.

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Lesson 412 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Do not confuse the contractions (it's, who's, they're, you're) with the possessive pronouns (its, whose, their, your).

Instructions: Choose the correct forms from the words in parentheses in the following sentences.

1. (It's, Its) about time you started looking for (your, you're) shoes.

2. (They're, their) coming at about nine for (they're, their) children.

3. (It's, Its) mouth was sore because (it's, its) chewing all the time.

4. (Whose, who's) briefcase will you be using for (your, you're) papers?

5. (Your, You're) going to be late, but (whose, who's) going to be on time?

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. It's about time you started looking for your shoes.

2. They're coming at about nine for their children.

3. Its mouth was sore because it's chewing all the time.

4. Whose briefcase will you be using for your papers?

5. You're going to be late, but who's going to be on time?

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Lesson 411 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Use the apostrophe in writing contractions. The apostrophe shows that a letter or letters have been omitted. A pronoun and a verb or a verb with the word "not" are the commonest contractions. Examples: you are = you're, do not = don't

Some contractions stand for more than one pair of words. Example: she is or she has = she's

Three contractions are irregular. They are shall not = shan't, will not = won't, and cannot = can't.

Instructions: Write the contractions of the following pairs of words.

1. we are it is you have who is has not

2. I will I am she will she shall I shall

3. I have we shall they are are not did not

4. he is you will you are is not had not

5. was not have not could not we would they will

6. should not does not there is they have you would

7. were not would not that is I had will not

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. we're it's you've who's hasn't

2. I'll I'm she'll she'll I'll

3. I've we'll they're aren't didn't

4. he's you'll you're isn't hadn't

5. wasn't haven't couldn't we'd they'll

6. shouldn't doesn't there's they've you'd

7. weren't wouldn't that's I'd won't

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Quiz for Lessons 406 - 410 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. Could I buy fifty cents worth of candy for the kids?

2. Somebodys shoes have been left in the living room.

3. His shoes are here, but where are yours?

4. His aunts nephew will be on television with Chansons group.

5. The cows udder was cut from jumping the neighbors fence.

6. Bob and Rays store will be open on Christmas.

7. Everybody elses help will be appreciated by my mothers family.

8. Just two days work will finish this room.

9. Anns and Marys costumes were the prettiest of everyones.

10. The women and girls ages were revealed to everyone.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Could I buy fifty cents' worth of candy for the kids?

2. Somebody's shoes have been left in the living room.

3. His shoes are here, but where are yours?

4. His aunt's nephew will be on television with Chanson’s group.

5. The cow's udder was cut from jumping the neighbor's fence.

6. Bob and Ray's store will be open on Christmas.

7. Everybody else's help will be appreciated by my mother's family.

8. Just two days' work will finish this room.

9. Ann's and Mary's costumes were the prettiest of everyone's.

10. The women's and girls' ages were revealed to everyone. (could be girl's)

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Lesson 410 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

As a rule, use the "of" phrase to show possession by (or connection with) inanimate objects. Example: the edge of the grass [not the lawn's edge]

Instructions: Choose the correct form for each of the following sentences.

1. Will you get me the (horse's bridle, bridle of the horse).

2. The (jar's top, top of the jar) was broken.

3. We found the wrecked car at the (road's end, end of the road).

4. (My uncle's friend, The friend of my uncle's) will be here tomorrow.

5. All the (car's tires, tires of the car) were flat.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Will you get me the horse's bridle. (bridle of the horse). (Either would be correct)

2. The top of the jar was broken.

3. We found the wrecked car at the end of the road.

4. My uncle's friend (The friend of my uncle's) will be here tomorrow. (Either would be correct)

5. All the tires of the car were flat.

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Lesson 409 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Use the apostrophe with expressions of time, space, and amount. Example: He bought a dollar's worth of ice cream.

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. You are to be here in two hours time.

2. Can you spare a moments time to help me?

3. That store sells a quarters worth of candy for a dime.

4. The child had three pennies worth of candy in his sack.

5. To finish this job will take four days work.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. You are to be here in two hours' time.

2. Can you spare a moment's time to help me?

3. That store sells a quarter's worth of candy for a dime.

4. The child had three pennies' worth of candy in his sack.

5. To finish this job will take four days' work.

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Lesson 408 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Use no apostrophe in personal, relative, or interrogative pronoun possessives. (Words like its, hers, his, ours, yours, theirs, and whose) Example: This book must be yours. Whose is it?

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. This book must be someones.

2. Everyones voice will be heard but yours.

3. Whose idea was it to stay longer?

4. Somebodys wallet is on the ground. Is it hers?

5. I found anothers concept whose time had come similar to yours.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. This book must be someone's.

2. Everyone's voice will be heard but yours.

3. Whose idea was it to stay longer?

4. Somebody's wallet is on the ground. Is it hers?

5. I found another's concept whose time had come similar to yours.

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Lesson 407 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

If the indefinite pronoun is followed by "else", then that word takes the apostrophe. Example: Somebody else's lock is on my locker.

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes and "s" ('s) to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. Someone else effort caused the needed result.

2. We should always be aware of somebody else pain.

3. Everyone else coat has been hung up.

4. Does anyone else need mean anything to you?

5. No one else houses were damaged by the storm.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Someone else's effort caused the needed result.

2. We should always be aware of somebody else's pain.

3. Everyone else's coat has been hung up.

4. Does anyone else's need mean anything to you?

5. No one else's houses were damaged by the storm.

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Lesson 406 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Indefinite pronouns show the possessive by adding 's. Example: one's idea

Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not point out specifically. They point out generally. They include such words as another, any, anybody, anyone, anything, both, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, many, neither, nobody, none, no one, one, other, others, some, somebody, and someone.

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes and "s" ('s) to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. Anyone guess is as good as mine.

2. Someone stupidity is going to hurt everyone chances for success.

3. I think everybody views should be heard.

4. No one vote should be left out.

5. Is this anybody book?

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Anyone's guess is as good as mine.

2. Someone's stupidity is going to hurt everyone's chances for success.

3. I think everybody's views should be heard.

4. No one's vote should be left out.

5. Is this anybody's book?

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Quiz for Lessons 401 - 405 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. The men and boys boots were all mixed together. (separate ownership)

2. Tess mother lives next door to us.

3. The dog growl scared the baby in the neighbor yard.

4. Both Mark and Stephanie hair is red. (separate ownership)

5. Mathew and Sarah mother came to the performance. (joint ownership)

6. The babies and the children fun ended with the parents return. (joint ownership)

7. The men hoods covered their faces.

8. The coop was covered with several chickens feathers.

9. I could hardly hear the puppy bark.

10. The wolves howls came sharply to the deer ears.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The men's and boys' boots were all mixed together. (separate ownership)

2. Tess's mother lives next door to us.

3. The dog's growl scared the baby in the neighbor's yard.

4. Both Mark's and Stephanie's hair is red. (separate ownership)

5. Mathew and Sarah's mother came to the performance. (joint ownership)

6. The babies and the children's fun ended with the parents' return. (joint ownership)

7. The men's hoods covered their faces.

8. The coop was covered with several chickens' feathers.

9. I could hardly hear the puppy's bark.

10. The wolves' howls came sharply to the deer's ears.

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Lesson 405 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Use an apostrophe to indicate possession with nouns. Use an apostrophe with each name to show separate ownership. Example: Becky's and Pam's dolls were lost.

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. Alaina and Eric sleds were both well used.

2. The children and infants clothing were in different parts of the store.

3. The hounds and the fox tracks went the same direction.

4. The bee and the butterfly lives are totally different.

5. Both men and women hats are sold in this store.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Alaina's and Eric's sleds were both well used.

2. The children's and infants' clothing were in different parts of the store.

3. The hounds' and the fox's tracks went the same direction. (hound's is also possible)

4. The bee's and the butterfly's lives are totally different.

5. Both men's and women's hats are sold in this store.

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Lesson 404 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Use an apostrophe to indicate possession with nouns. Use the apostrophe with the last name only for joint ownership. Example: Carl and Helen's cat was stuck up the tree.

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. Smith and Johnson store sells almost everything possible.

2. Jim and Jeff apartment was really dirty.

3. We can borrow Gene and Fred boat for tomorrow.

4. The cat and mouse game ended abruptly.

5. The buyer and salesman discussion brought the buyer a new car.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Smith and Johnson's store sells almost everything possible.

2. Jim and Jeff's apartment was really dirty.

3. We can borrow Gene and Fred's boat for tomorrow.

4. The cat and mouse's game ended abruptly.

5. The buyer and salesman's discussion brought the buyer a new car.

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Lesson 403 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

Use an apostrophe to indicate possession with nouns. A plural noun that does end in "s" forms the possessive adding just '. Write the noun; change no letters; drop no letters; and then simply add '. This rule is always the same for each plural noun that does end in "s."

(To be sure you need a possessive and not just a plural, say the word followed by "what." Example: I saw those girls. "Girls" what? Nothing. "Girls" is a plural. I saw those girls' gloves. "Girls" what? "Gloves" so "girls" is a possessive.)

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1. All the pupils seats were taken.

2. Mud had covered all of the girls dresses.

3. The lawyers fees came to a million dollars.

4. The Allens house burned to the ground last night.

5. The sailors parents were very worried by the news.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. All the pupils' seats were taken.

2. Mud had covered all of the girls' dresses.

3. The lawyers' fees came to a million dollars.

4. The Allens' house burned to the ground last night.

5. The sailors' parents were very worried by the news.

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