Plurals, Possessive, and Contractions

Plurals, Possessive, and Contractions

Apostrophes can change the meaning of your words.

When do writers use an apostrophe?

• singular possessive nouns

• plural possessives nouns

• contractions

Possessive Nouns

Use an apostrophe to show possession, or ownership, of something.

To make a singular noun possessive, add 's.

To make a plural noun possessive, you usually add an apostrophe AFTER the s.

Multiple Choice

How would you make this possessive?

The locker of the girl is a mess.

• The girl's locker is a mess.

• The girls' locker is a mess.

• The girls locker is a mess.

Multiple Choice

How would you make this possessive?

The television belonging to Kelly was too loud!

• Kelly's television was too loud!

• Kellys' television was too loud!

• Kellys television was too loud

Multiple Choice

How would you make this possessive?

The books belonging to the two boys were on the floor.

• The boy's books were on the floor.

• The boys' books were on the floor.

• The boys books were on the floor.

Plural Nouns DON'T use apostrophes!

• When you make a plural, you usually add -s to the end: cats, books, movies, cookies

• Irregular nouns may change form: mouse to mice, man to men, child to children, cactus to cacti

• 
  

  
  

• Some English words are plural AND singular: sheep, moose, deer

Contractions Using "is" also use apostrophes

Contractions are a combination of two words. The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter(s).

Let's Review

Multiple Choice

Possessive, Contraction, or Plural?

The Pony Express's name comes from the mail carriers riding ponies.

• possessive

• contraction

• plural

Multiple Choice

Possessive, Contraction, or Plural?

The mail prices once cost five dollars for a letter.

• possessive

• contraction

• plural

Multiple Choice

Possessive, Contraction, or Plural?

The Pony Express -- that's the basis for the modern postal system.

• possessive

• contraction

• plural