s p a ssa g e?

g with t hi
h a t’s w r o n
W

1
 a pos tr op h e
ti ons us i ng
ing d e s cr i p
Wri t

2
 B DR R
C

Using
apos
troph
e
Presen
te r: Uro
oj Waq
ar
ap o str o phe

Punctuation
mark 4
 a po str o phe
Uses of

Two common uses

• Apostrophes can be used: To shorten

words (contraction) (e.g., can't, isn't)
• To show possession (e.g., dog's kennel,
dogs' kennel)
• In this lesson we will be discussing and
focusing on second use ONLY.

ADD A FOOTER 5
 W he n to Use
on
The Rules
es
Apostroph

The big question is where to put the

apostrophe?

Does it go before or after the s? The quick

answer:
• For one horse (or one possessor), put the
apostrophe before the s.
The horse's hay
• For more than one horse (or more than one
possessor), put the apostrophe after the s.
The horses' hay

(Beware! There are some exceptions to

this rule.) 6
 es s or , t he
g ul ar Po s s
Wi t h a S in r e th e  s
G o es b ef o
r oph e
Apost

For example:
•Take the girl's hand and place it on the cushion.  hand belonging to one girl
•I had to remove Peter's label and replace it.  label belonging to Peter, i.e., one person
•Wagner's music is better than it sounds.   

•A friend's eye is a good mirror. 

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 es s o r , t h e
Plu r a l P o s s
Wi t h a f t er t he   s
p h e G o es a
Apo s t r o

For example:
•The horses' hay is damp.  hay belonging to several horses
•The ladies' toilets are out of bounds.  toilets belonging to all ladies, i.e., more than one
•The fairies' wings glistened in the moonlight.  wings belonging to some fairies, i.e., more than
one

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 u r a l N ou n s
e R ul e ( Pl
p t io n to t h
An E x c e
n d in g s )
Not E

Examples:
•He is the people's poet. 
•All television is children's television. 
•Zeus does not bring all men's plans to fulfilment. 
•My watch was stolen from the men's changing room. 

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 ul a r N ou ns
Ru l e (S in g
t io n t o t he
Exce p
En din g s )

Singular words which end in s (e.g., Charles, Wales, Paris, Dickens) can end

in ' (i.e., just an apostrophe) or 's when showing possession.
Examples:
•It is Charles' birthday.   It is Charles's birthday.  (both correct)

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Than
k You!
Quest
ions??
?????
?