Plural Possessives
The (athlete’s/athletes') dedication to their (teams’/team's) success is evident in their rigorous training schedules.
The athletes' dedication to their team's success is evident in their rigorous training schedules.
If I could get them laughing and smiling, (then/than) I would feel safe.
If I could get them laughing and smiling, then I would feel safe.
Be sure you use (your/you're) gifts to uplift others.
Be sure you use your gifts to uplift others.
There is a beloved classic in American cuisine, known for its gooey cheese and crispy crust pizza.
This sentence needs a punctuation mark to introduce an important item. What word should it go after?
There is a beloved classic in American cuisine, known for its gooey cheese and crispy crust: pizza.
(Spectators'/Spectator’s) cheers echoed through the stadium as the players scored a decisive goal.
Spectators' cheers echoed through the stadium as the players scored a decisive goal.
I think that those flowers to me and her were more (then/than) just that.
I think that those flowers to me and her were more than just that.
That way, (your/you're) children’s kids and their kids will be able to invest in (there/their/they're) own futures when the time comes.
That way, your children’s kids and their kids will be able to invest in their own futures when the time comes.
In the past some were sold to be preserved or reused, however, most subway cars were scrapped for their metal.
This sentence needs to be corrected for punctuation. Which mark should be changed to a different mark?
In the past some were sold to be preserved or reused; however, most subway cars were scrapped for their metal.
The head (coach’s/coaches') strategies play a crucial role in guiding his team to victory.
The head coach’s strategies play a crucial role in guiding his team to victory.
In 2010, Steve Jobs said the iPad is “way better (then/than) a smartphone.”
In 2010, Steve Jobs said the iPad is “way better than a smartphone.”
That group of boys (is/are) headed to the restroom.
That group of boys is headed to the restroom.
After these encounters, I would be a mess for days depressed, irritable, hypervigilant, ashamed.
This sentence needs a punctuation mark added to correct it. What word should it go after?
After these encounters, I would be a mess for days: depressed, irritable, hypervigilant, ashamed.
The (fan’s/fans') cheers for their team never wavered, even during challenging seasons.
The fans' cheers for their team never wavered, even during challenging seasons.
Setting up the tent, alone, could take the better part of a day, and even (then/than) they (were/was) lucky if it didn’t collapse on them with the slightest breeze.
Setting up the tent, alone, could take the better part of a day, and even then they were lucky if it didn’t collapse on them with the slightest breeze.
I (weren’t/wasn’t) two periods into my first day before a classmate called me a ‘‘(racial slur),’’ as if it (were/was) no big deal.
I wasn't two periods into my first day before a classmate called me a ‘‘(racial slur),’’ as if it were no big deal.
Took me until I was a sophomore in high school yes, that long before I finally found it in me to start facing my terror.
This sentence needs dashes to organize an aside (an interruption). What words should they go around?
Took me until I was a sophomore in high school — yes, that long — before I finally found it in me to start facing my terror.
A (player’s/players') perseverance in the face of adversity inspires admiration from his or her supporters.
A player’s perseverance in the face of adversity inspires admiration from his or her supporters.
Placing the cigarette between his lips, he struck a match, inhaled the smoke quickly and (then/than) put out the light. Almost immediately, a bullet struck the parapet of the roof nearby. The sniper took another puff of his cigarette and (then/than) put it out. (Then/Than) he swore softly to himself and (then/than) moved carefully away to the left.
Placing the cigarette between his lips, he struck a match, inhaled the smoke quickly and then put out the light. Almost immediately, a bullet struck the parapet of the roof nearby. The sniper took another puff of his cigarette and then put it out. Then he swore softly to himself and then moved carefully away to the left.
Some of us wandered into wormholes and (were/was) jettisoned into the unexplored future, and some of us returned to the past. All at once we (were/was) on Mars and in 1650s England, and underneath the seas in Atlantis.
Some of us wandered into wormholes and were jettisoned into the unexplored future, and some of us returned to the past. All at once we were on Mars and in 1650s England, and underneath the seas in Atlantis.
No sooner than that happened my brother who was one year older and my best friend and protector was found to have leukemia the kind that in those days had a real nasty habit of killing you.
This sentence needs 4 commas to organize extra information. What words should they go after?
No sooner than that happened, my brother, who was one year older and my best friend and protector, was found to have leukemia, the kind that in those days had a real nasty habit of killing you.