Frequently Made Mistakes in Grammar and Mechanics

Apostrophes

Apostrophes are used with nouns to indicate possession or to make contractions.

• Contractions are made when you use an apostrophe to combine a noun and a verb.
  • For example:   I am = I’m

• He or she is = he’s or she’s
• They are = they’re
• We have = we’ve
• I will = I’ll
• I would = I’d
• Possessions show that something belongs to someone. 
  • Add ’s to the end of a singular noun to make it possessive even if the word ends in s.
    • For example:  John’s car = the car that belongs to John.
    • James’s house = the house that belongs to James.
  • Add ’s to the end of a plural noun that does not end in s.
    • For example:  The children’s books = the books that belong to the children.
    • The women’s suitcases = the suitcases that belong to the women.
  • Add s’ to the end of a plural noun that ends in s.
    • For example:  The trucks’ engines = the many engines that belong to many trucks.
  • Add ’s to the end of compound nouns.
    • For example:  The sister-in-law’s television = the television that belongs to the sister-in-law.

Revised March 19, 2008 by webservices@pasadena.edu