| Apostrophes |
| Common Contractions: I've = I have you'd = you would or you had it's = it is we'll = we will they're = they are aren't = are not can't = cannot haven't = have not shouldn't = should not |
| Use of the apostrophe is tested in two ways in Praxis. One is its use in contractions, two words that are made into one by dropping a letter and replacing it with an apostrophe. Pronouns are frequently combined with forms of the verbs to be and to have; modals (words like may, might and should) and the verbs to be and to have are often combined with the word not. The two contractions that most often appear incorrectly in standardized tests are it’s (it is) used in the place of the possessive pronoun its, and they’re (they are) used instead of their or there. Apostrophes are also used to show possession or attachment. Singular and plural nouns that do not end in s are made possessive by adding an apostrophe and an s. Plural nouns, and singular nouns that end in s are made possessive by adding an apostrophe: Ashot’s car clock’s hands cat’s tail men’s room Jess’ car clocks’ hands cats’ tails ladies’ room We often use the possessive form to speak of time and amounts. For example, instead of saying after waiting a week, we more commonly say after a week's wait. the work of a day is the same as a day's work the salary made in a month is the same as a month's salary the study of two years is the same as two years' study Be especially careful with compound subjects. If both subjects are attached to or possess that which is being discussed, both must be in the possessive. Consider the difference between these two sentences: Jan’s and Tom’s brothers are rocket scientists. Jan and Tom’s brothers are rocket scientists. In the first sentence, the brothers of both Jan and Tom are rocket scientists; in the second sentence, Jan is a rocket scientist, and so are the brothers of Tom. |
| It's a pleasure to watch Haruna dance. |
| Try a practice quiz on apostrophes from Capital Community College. View all practice quizzes from CCC. |
| Haruna's hands move in time with feet. |
| Remember! Make words that do not end in s possessive by adding 's; make words that end in s possessive by adding '. |
| Haruna learned a year's worth of new dances in only six months. |
| A Common Error: Never use the word time in combination with words that express time as in a week's time, or a year's time. These words include the idea of time; adding the word time is redundant (saying something twice). |
| Haruna's and her friends' parents love to watch the girls dance. |
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