Apostrophe Punctuation
Learn about the apostrophe and its proper usage in English
What Is an Apostrophe?
An apostrophe (') is a punctuation mark used to indicate possession, contractions, and sometimes plural forms. It is one of the most commonly misused punctuation marks in English. Understanding when and how to use apostrophes correctly is essential for clear and accurate writing.
Uses of Apostrophes
Possessive Apostrophes
Singular Possession
The dog's bone
Plural Possession
The dogs' bones
Names Ending in S
James's car
Joint Possession
John and Mary's house
Contractions
Common Contractions
Don't, can't, won't
Verb Contractions
I'm, you're, he's
Negative Contractions
Isn't, aren't, hasn't
Possessive Pronouns
Its, yours, theirs (no apostrophe)
Special Cases
Plural Letters/Numbers
Mind your p's and q's
Time Expressions
A day's work
Abbreviations
CD's, DVD's
Omitted Letters
Rock 'n' roll
Apostrophe Examples
The cat's toy is missing. (Singular possession)
I don't want to go. (Contraction)
The students' books are on the desk. (Plural possession)
It's a beautiful day. (Contraction of "it is")
Interactive Quiz 1: Identify Apostrophe Uses
Identify the use of apostrophes in each sentence:
The dog's bone is missing.
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Answer: Possessive apostrophe (singular)
I don't want to go.
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Answer: Contraction (do not)
The students' books are here.
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Answer: Possessive apostrophe (plural)
Interactive Quiz 2: Add Apostrophes
Add apostrophes where needed:
The cats toy is missing.
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Answer: The cat's toy is missing.
I do not want to go.
Show Answer
Answer: I don't want to go.
The students books are here.
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Answer: The students' books are here.
Interactive Quiz 3: Common Mistakes
Identify the mistakes in these sentences:
1. "Its a beautiful day"
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Answer: Should be "It's" (contraction of it is)
2. "The dog's are barking"
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Answer: Should be "dogs" (plural, not possessive)
3. "Your going to the store"
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Answer: Should be "You're" (contraction of you are)
Interactive Quiz 4: Possessive vs Plural
Choose the correct form:
1. The _____ are playing. (multiple cats)
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Answer: cats (plural, no apostrophe)
2. The _____ toy is missing. (one cat owns the toy)
Show Answer
Answer: cat's (singular possessive)
3. The _____ toys are missing. (multiple cats own the toys)
Show Answer
Answer: cats' (plural possessive)
Tips for Using Apostrophes
Possession vs Plural
Use apostrophes for possession, not for simple plurals.
Contractions
Apostrophes replace omitted letters in contractions.
Possessive Pronouns
Remember: its, yours, theirs don't need apostrophes.
Quick Reference
Pro Tip
Apostrophes show possession and create contractions - they're essential for clear writing!