Transcript Rules for Apostrophes

Rules for
Apostrophes
(Possessive)
Possession: The Simple Facts
The tool kit couldn’t be simpler. All you need
to make almost any word possessive is an
apostrophe and the letter s. You add
both of them together (‘s) or just the
apostrophe alone, depending on the
circumstances.
Exceptions to the rules
 Jesus’
parables
 Moses’ tablets
 Achilles’ heel
Joint Ownership
 These
are Lenny and Harold’s props. (The
props belong to both Lenny and Harold.)
 These are Lenny’s and Harold’s props.
(Both Lenny and Harold have their own
props.)
Lenny and Harold hands are freezing!
Adam and Debbie marriage is super.
Tony and Tina teeth are yellow.
Possession: The Simple Facts
1.
If the word is singular, always add ‘s.



The waiter spilled red wine on Demi’s
dress, which came from Kansas’s finest
shop.
The dress’s skirt, which resembled a tutu
from one of Degas’s paintings, was ruined.
Bruce’s attitude was philosophical
because he had been reading Camus’s
essays.
Possession: The Simple Facts
2. If the word is plural and doesn’t already
end in s, add ‘s:

The children’s menu was a rip-off, and the
men’s room was painted fuchsia.
Possession: The Simple Facts
3. If the word is plural and ends in s, add just
the apostrophe:



The Willises’ car was stolen by the valet
parking attendant.
The cops’ attitude was cruel.
The victims’ evening was now
demolished.
Type of word Example
ending in an
“s”
Singular
dress
Plural
cops
Example not
ending in an
“s”
Demi
children
This is CONFUSING!!
 Mr.
and Mrs. Jones have a new car.
 The Joneses have a new car.
 Mr. Jones’s car is new.
 The Joneses’ car is new.
Plural
Possessive
One person More than
one person
Possession: The Simple Facts
4. The comma or period goes after the
apostrophe:

The idea was the girls’, or maybe the
boys’, but at any rate the responsibility
was their parents’.
Possession: The Simple Facts
5. If the name ends in s adds es’

Willis  Willises’
6. For a name that doesn’t end is an s, add
s’

Babbit  Babbits’
Apostrophe: The Simple Facts
7. Add ‘s to make plurals of numbers and
letters, including abbreviations:

Libby, the daughter of two CPA’s, was
born in the 1940’s, and earned all B’s at
Swarthmore.
Practice
 This
hollow tree is an owl home.
 Preserving history is Prince Charles
personal crusade.
 All of the boxes contents are leaking out.
 The actors rights were spelled out in their
contracts.
 Has everyone test been graded?