Apostrophes
Many superstitious fans’ place the blame not on the players or managers but on a goat.
A. NO CHANGE
B. fan’s
C. fans’s
D. fans
D
In this sentence, fans is plural (we are referring to many people), but NOT possessive. Therefore, there is no need for an apostrophe.
Which artist is known as the 'Queen B'?
A) Beyoncé
B) Taylor Swift
C) Ariana Grande
D) Rihanna
A) Beyoncé
At the young age of nine Suarez taught himself software programs including C, Python, and Java.
F. NO CHANGE
G. young age of nine, Suarez
H. young age, of nine, Suarez
J. young age of nine Suarez,
G
The beginning of this sentence, At the young age of nine, is an introductory phrase. We should add a comma after this introductory phrase to separate it from the main part of the sentence.
What is the setting of this play?
A. Boston, 1700
B. Salem, 1692
C. Toppsfield, 1650
D. Ohio, 2016
B. Salem, 1692
As a result, the stock nearly quadrupled in price; with 30 million shares in his name, 50 Cent made millions of dollars virtually overnight while barely lifting a finger.
F. NO CHANGE
G. in price with;
H. in price with
J. in price, with
F
The sentence uses the semicolon correctly because it is located between two complete thoughts.
The Cubs were close to a World Series bid when Sam Sianis, Billy Sianis’s nephew, allegedly brought a goat to Wrigley Field but was denied entry.
F. NO CHANGE
G. Billy Sianis’
H. Billy Sianis
J. Billy Siani’s
F
Billy Sianis is singular (we are referring to one person). In this sentence, his name is possessive because we are referring to his nephew. Remember, for singular possessive nouns, simply add ‘s after the noun (even if the noun ends in –s in its singular form).
Which popular game involves building and crafting in a blocky world?
A) Fortnite
B) Minecraft
C) Among Us
D) Call of Duty
B) Minecraft
Suarez feels that kids have a desire to create innovate and design new things if only provided with the right source of inspiration.
A. NO CHANGE
B. to create, innovate and design new things
C. to create, innovate, and design, new things
D. to create, innovate, and design new things
D
The pre-teen techie tycoon lists three actions for kids to take; since he provides a list of three or more things, we need to add a comma after each item except for the last one.
Kindest most respected woman in Salem
A. Rebecca Nurse
B. Abigail Williams
C. Betty Parris
D. Elizabeth Proctor
A. Rebecca Nurse
Rapper 50 Cent’s name may imply that he’s low on cash; but his fans know otherwise.
A. NO CHANGE
B. cash and
C. cash, but
D. cash but;
C
We do NOT need a semicolon in this sentence. Instead, let’s review the rules for using commas with two complete thoughts. The sentence already contains the conjunction but; now we just need a comma in front of the conjunction.
So, to all the Cubs fans out there, your best bet for seeing a World Series might just be to show kindness to goats!
A. NO CHANGE
B. you’re
C. their
D. they’re
A
Your is possessive, which is appropriate because the author is discussing the only hope that fans possess. You’re would not work because it stands for you are, which does not fit in the sentence. The second best option would be their because it is also possessive; however, the author is directly speaking to Cubs fans, so A is the better choice.
Which social media platform is known for its short video content?
A) Instagram
B) TikTok
C) Snapchat
D) Twitter
B) TikTok
Soon thereafter, he created the app that put him on the map, Bustin Jieber a game built around the pop icon Justin Bieber.
F. NO CHANGE
G. on the map Bustin Jieber a game
H. on the map, Bustin Jieber, a game
J. on the map Bustin, Jieber, a game
H
The title of the app, Bustin Jieber, is an interruption or extra piece of information. Similar to question 1, the sentence makes sense without the name of the app, so we will add commas around it.
Lost seven babies within a year of their birth.
A. Ann Putnam
B.Martha Corey
C. Elizabeth Proctor
D. Rebecca Nurse
A. Ann Putnam
The stock was only trading at ten cents a share, when it comes to stocks, that’s usually a bad sign.
A. NO CHANGE
B. share when
C. share for when
D. share; when
D
We again have two complete thoughts; join them with a semicolon.
Series game against the Detroit Tigers. However, fans were disgusted by the goat’s odor and park officials ordered it’s removal.
A. NO CHANGE
B. its
C. its’
D. it is
B
Its is singular (referring to the one goat) AND possessive. We wouldn’t say “Park officials ordered it is removal” (remember: it’s=it is). As such, the word its should be written WITHOUT an apostrophe.
Which Netflix series is set in the 1980s and involves supernatural events in a small town?
A) Stranger Things
B) The Crown
C) The Umbrella Academy
D) Black Mirror
A) Stranger Things
Thomas Suarez, however is not your typical twelve year old.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Thomas Suarez however,
C. Thomas Suarez, however,
D. Thomas Suarez however
C
In this sentence, the word however is an interruption. Therefore, it should be offset on either side with commas. Hint: Read the sentence without the word however. It still makes sense, right? That means it is extra information and should be separated from the main part of the sentence with commas.
Educated in the supernatural world
A. Abigail
B. Tituba
C. Reverend Hale
D. John Proctor
C. Reverend Hale
50 Cent was investigated by the Securities & Exchange Commission apparently it is illegal to encourage people to invest in a low-performing stock in order to inflate the price for personal gain.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Securities & Exchange Commission apparently; it
C. Securities & Exchange Commission, apparently; it
D. Securities & Exchange Commission; apparently it
D
The semicolon should be moved to the end of the first complete thought. Each half of the sentence expresses a complete thought.
According to legend, in 1945, Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis brought a goat to Wrigley Field, the Cubs home field, during a World Series game against the Detroit Tigers.
F. NO CHANGE
G. Cub’s
H. Cubs’
J. Cubs’s
H
In this sentence, the word Cubs is both plural (referring to the entire team) AND possessive (it is their field). Therefore, we place the apostrophe after the –s in Cubs. (Professional sports teams, even singular looking ones like the Miami Heat, should be considered plural, so use plural verbs and pronouns as well as apostrophe rules for plurals).
Which movie franchise features characters such as Jack Sparrow, Davy Jones, and Captain Barbossa?
A) Pirates of the Caribbean
B) The Lord of the Rings
C) Star Wars
D) Indiana Jones
A) Pirates of the Caribbean
From there he created his first app and his parents put it up for sale on the iPhone store.
A. NO CHANGE
B. first app, and his parents
C. first, app and his parents
D. first app and his parents,
B
This sentence is comprised of two independent clauses (in other words, it contains two complete thoughts). It already contains the conjunction and between the two complete thoughts, but it needs a comma before the conjunction.
When Betty became bed ridden what was Reverend Parris's main worry?
A. The girls moral upbringing
B. His own reputation
C. Rebeccas's problems
D. Helping Betty get well
B. His own reputation
50 Cent’s company, G-Unit Inc., invested heavily in a company called H & H Imports; the company distributes 50 Cent’s headphones.
F. NO CHANGE
G. H & H Imports, the company
H. H & H Imports, but the company
J. H & H Imports the company
F
Here we have two complete thoughts combined into one sentence. We should add a semicolon between the two complete thoughts.