Possession
A single rabbit owns the cage. Complete: Clean the ____ cage.
Answer: rabbit’s — For a singular noun, add apostrophe + s: rabbit’s.
Combine “do” and “not.”
Answer: don’t — The apostrophe replaces the omitted o.
Complete: ____ time to feed the cat.
Answer: It’s — It’s is the contraction of it is (or it has).
Complete the shortened year: He was drafted back in ____ (meaning 1945).
Answer: ’45 — The apostrophe stands for the omitted digits 19.
Complete: My three-year-old is practicing her ____. (the letter B, plural)
Answer: B’s — Apostrophes can clarify plurals of individual letters.
One boy owns the room. Complete: They will paint the ____ room.
Answer: boy’s — A singular noun usually takes apostrophe + s.
Combine “should” and “have.”
Answer: should’ve — The apostrophe marks letters omitted from have.
The cat licked ____ paws. Which word belongs here?
Answer: its — Its without an apostrophe shows ownership.
Besides contractions, what else can apostrophes show being omitted?
Answer: Numbers or letters, such as digits in a year — Apostrophes can mark omitted numbers or letters.
True or false: Apostrophes are used to make ordinary words plural.
Answer: False — Do not use apostrophes to make regular words plural.
Several boys share the room. Complete: the ____ room.
Answer: boys’ — For a regular plural ending in s, put the apostrophe after the s.
In a contraction, what does an apostrophe show?
Answer: Letters that have been left out — Apostrophes mark omission in shortened words.
What two words can “it’s” stand for?
Answer: It is or it has — If either replacement fits, use it’s.
What does “omission” mean?
Answer: Leaving something out — Apostrophes can show where material has been left out.
Complete: Use ____ to tag your photos online. (plural of the # symbol)
Answer: #’s — Apostrophes can be used to pluralize individual symbols.
Shelly joined the ____ Rotary Club. (The club belongs to women.)
Answer: Women’s — Women is an irregular plural that does not end in s, so add apostrophe + s.
Complete: I ____ want to go to the dance this Friday. (do not)
Answer: don’t — Do not becomes don’t.
Test this sentence: “It’s time to feed the cat.” Does “it is” fit?
Answer: Yes — “It is time to feed the cat” keeps the meaning.
If a year is shortened from 1945 to ’45, which digits are omitted?
Answer: 19 — The apostrophe marks the missing first two digits.
Name three kinds of things that can be pluralized with an apostrophe for clarity.
Answer: Individual letters, numbers, and symbols — The lesson gives letters, numbers, and symbols as the exception.
Both forms can show ownership of a car belonging to Thomas. Name either correct form.
Answer: Thomas’s car OR Thomas’ car — For a proper noun ending in s, either style may be used; stay consistent.
True or false: “should of” is the correct phrase for the contraction “should’ve.”
Answer: False — The phrase is should have; the contraction is should’ve.
Which word shows ownership: it’s or its?
Answer: its — Its means belonging to it; it’s is a contraction.
Complete the rule: Contractions shorten words by dropping letters and replacing them with an ____.
Answer: apostrophe — The apostrophe shows where letters were left out.
Why might “B’s” be clearer than “Bs” in a sentence about practicing a letter?
Answer: The apostrophe makes it clear that B means the letter itself — It helps avoid confusion when pluralizing an individual letter.