1. Apostrophes
English 12B - Chapter 27

2. Apostrophes: The Possessive Case
Singular: form possessive case by adding an apostrophe and an s
Mrs. Krabill’s classroom is pretty.
Mrs. Krabill spends half a week’s salary on her classroom every month.
Add only an apostrophe if the word has more than one syllable AND another s would make the word awkward to pronounce
Oh, for goodness’ sake!
Purple feathers is one of that species’ characteristics.
**if a word does NOT meet BOTH of the conditions, use an apostrophe and an s!!
- Chris’s coat is blue.

3. Apostrophes: The Possessive Case
Plural: to form the possessive case of a plural noun (usually already end in s) add only an apostrophe
The tables’ legs are all uneven!
Many cities’ problems include how to organize recycling programs
For plural nouns that do not end in s, add an apostrophe and an s
Those are children’s stories!
Note: DO NOT use an apostrophe to form the plural of a noun!
Four cats walked across the field.
Four cat’s walked across the field.

4. Apostrophes: The Possessive Case
Do NOT use apostrophes with possessive personal pronouns
My, mine, - his, her, hers, its
Your, yours - our, ours
Their, theirs
DO use an apostrophe to for them possessive of an indefinite pronoun
It is anyone’s game at this point!

5. Apostrophes: The Possessive Case
If you have a compound noun, form the possessive on only the last word
Grayling High School’s baseball team won last night.
Form the possessive of each noun if they possess similar items
Mrs. Krabill’s and Mrs. Andersons’s hair looks the same today!
Notes:
When showing joint possession, all words must be in possessive form
Mike’s and his conversation was about the Christmas party.
Possessive acronyms get an apostrophe and s

6. Practice Makes Perfect
Page Exercise 6 – ODDS!!!

7. Contractions
In a contraction, the apostrophe represents the missing letters
There’s (there is) - she’ll (she will)
Let’s (let us) - we’d (we would)
I’d (I would) - they’re (they are)
Do not confuse contractions with possessive pronouns!
Whose/ who’s -their/they’re
Its/it’s
Your/you’re

8. Plurals
Use apostrophes to form the plurals of letters, numerals, symbols, or words referred to as such
Hawaii ends with two i’s.
Make sure your 1’s do not look like 7’s.
Use apostrophes to form plurals of abbreviations ending with periods
Those students are earning their Ph.D.’s.
I have a lot of CDs. (No period; no apostrophe)

9. Practice Page 871 - Exercise 6 – Odds only