1. Apostrophes Ms. Largen

2. Rule #1 Used to show ownership or possession • Using an apostrophe shows that something belongs to or is in the possession of someone. • A book that belongs to Sarah is said to be Sarah’s book. • A bone that belongs to a dog is said to be the dog’s bone. • A house that belongs to a mouse is said to be the mouse’s house.

3. Steps to Making Words Possessive • Determine if the word is singular or plural. • If the word is singular, add ‘s. • If the word is plural, look at how the plural is spelled. • If the plural is already spelled with an S, just add an apostrophe to the end. • If the plural does not end in S, add an ‘s.

4. Let’s Practice: dog • Is dog singular or plural? • Singular—What’s the rule for singular? • If the word is singular, add ‘s • Dog’s

5. Let’s Practice: cats • Is the word singular or plural? • Plural—What’s the rule for making plural words possessive? • Look at the spelling. • It already ends in s • Just add an apostrophe • Cats’

6. Let’s Practice: people • Is the word singular or plural? • Plural—What’s the rule for plurals? • Look at the spelling. • It does not end in s • Add ‘s • People’s

7. Let’s Practice: Ms. Miles • Is the word singular or plural? • Singular • What’s the rule for singular? • Add ‘s • Ms. Miles’s

8. Your turn: Make the following words possessive. • Mice • Book • Coasters • Bird • Birds • Students • Children • Foxes • Shelf • Bottles • Mice’s • Book’s • Coasters’ • Bird’s • Birds’ • Students’ • Children’s • Foxes’ • Shelf’s • Bottles’

9. Do not use an apostrophe with possessive personal pronouns • Yours • Mine • Hers • His • Theirs • Ours • Whose

10. Rule #2 Contractions • Apostrophes are also used in contractions. • A contraction is the combination of two short words into one. • An apostrophe is used to show where letters have been omitted.

11. Examples: • I want to combine the words Who and Is Who + Is ‘

12. Let’s Practice… • Let + Us • Would + Have • It + Is • Can + Not • You + Are • I + Am • He + Is • Were + Not • Is + Not • Are + Not • __________________ • Let’s • Would’ve • It’s • Can’t • You’re • I’m • He’s • Weren’t • Isn’t • Aren’t • Ain’t

13. Rule #3—Use an apostrophe to form the plurals of letters, numerals, and symbols, and of words referred to as words. • The word terrify has two r’s in it. • Enrico’s T’s looked like 7’s. • Rap music became popular in the 1980’s. • Sharon uses too many and’s to join ideas in her writing.