The Apostrophe

Here I will explain the two main purposes for the apostrophe, show you when and how to use the apostrophe, and when not to use the apostrophe.

Apostrophe in Contractions

A contraction is when two words are combined to make a new shortened version of the two words. They form to make one word, but mean the same thing as the two words. The apostrophe is used to show that two or more words have been removed from the word.

Here are some of the most common contractions:

I + am = I’m

it + is = it’s

does + not = doesn’t

do + not = don’t

she will = she’ll

you would = you’d

will not = won’t

Now you try: (Answers can be found at the bottom of the page)

Practice 1

You will =

She will =

You would =

It is =

I would =

Who is =

What is =

I am =

That is =

Does not =

Do not =

Is not =

Are not =

Will not =

Did not =

They are =

Here are even more contractions to add to your list. This might be repetitive, but it will help you memorize what you are learning: (check out tooter4kids.com)

In the charts below the + means to add and the - ( minus) means to take away.  Just like in math.

 Some contractions are formed with the word not. Most of the contractions are formed by using the main word and substituting an apostrophe (') for the o in the word not.

Notice that the main word usually doesn't change except in the  following words: will not becoming won't and cannot becoming can't. 

can not

can + not - no

 can't

are not

are + not - o

 aren't

do not

do + not - o

 don't

does not

does + not - o

 doesn't

could not

could + not - o

 couldn't

should not

should + not - o

 shouldn't

will not

will -ill + o then - o

 won't

have not

have + not - o

 haven't

had not

had + not - o

 hadn't

has not

has + not - o

 hasn't

is not

is + not - o

 isn't

was not

was + not - o

 wasn't

would not

would + not - o

 wouldn't

were not

were + not - o

 weren't

Some contractions are formed by combining the words am, is and are with the pronouns I, you, he, she, it, we and they. Use the apostrophe for the missing letters.

Words

Changes

Contractions

I am

I + am - a

 I'm

You are

You + are - a

 You're

They are

They + are - a

 They're

He is

He + is - i

 He's

She is

She + is - i

 She's

It is

It + is - i

 It's

We are

We + are - a

 We're

Some contractions are formed with pronouns and the words have and has.  In most cases it involves combining the pronoun and have or has by removing the "ha" in the word have or has and putting an apostrophe.

Words

Changes

Contractions

I have

I + have - ha

I've

You have

You + have - ha

You've

He has

He + has - ha

He's

They have

They + have - ha

They've

She has

She + has - ha

She's

It has

It + has - ha

It's

We have

We + have

We've

Some contractions are formed with pronouns and the word had.  In most cases when using the word had you need to remove the "hai" in the word and add an apostrophe.

Words

Changes

Contractions

I had

I + had - ha

 I'd

We had

We + had

 We'd

You had

You + had - ha

 You'd

He had

He + had - ha

 He'd

She had

She + had - ha

 S he'd

They had

They + had - ha

 They'd

Other contractions are formed when using the word will. In most cases when using the word will you need to remove the "wi" in the word and add an apostrophe.

Words

Changes

Contractions

I will

I + will - wi

 I'll

You will

You + will - wi

 You'll

They will

They + will - wi

 They'll

He will

He + will - wi

 He'll

She will

She + will - wi

 She'll

It will

It + will - wi

 It'll

That will

That + will - wi

 That'll

We will

We + will- wi

 We'll

Were any of these confusing? Let’s explain some of the ones that are a bit challenging.

They’re

It’s

You’re

Who’s

These contractions are easily confused with the possessive forms:

Their

Its

Yours

Whose

The Apostrophe to show Possession

To show that something belongs to someone or something, we use the apostrophe to show possession.

For example we could say these next three phrases two different ways:

the trailer park owned by Jeffrey = Jeffrey’s trailer park

the engine belonging to the trailer = the trailer’s engine

the kitten of the trailer park neighbor = the neighbor’s kitten

By using an apostrophe we have made these phrases much simpler to write and say.

*To make a singular word (or a plural word not ending in s) possessive, add an apostrophe plus an s. To decide what to make possessive, ask yourself the following:

Who or what is owned?

Who are what owns something?

Let’s go back to our original three phrases:

the trailer park owned by Jeffrey (What is owned? The trailer park is owned. Who owns the trailer park? Jeffrey owns the trailer park)

the engine belonging to the trailer (What is owned? The engine is owned. What owns something? The trailer owns the engine.)

the kitten of the trailer park neighbor (What is owned? The kitten is owned. Who is the owner? The neighbor is the owner of the kitten.)

*Even if a singular word already ends with an s you still add an ‘s to make it possessive. (the boss’s desk = the desks that belongs to the boss)

*When you have a plural word that needs to show possession you simply add an ‘. (several employees’ complaints = the complaints of several employess)

Joint Possession

To show joint possession add an ‘s or s’ with the last noun only, or to show individual possession, make all nouns possessive.

Examples:

Have Katie and Jake’s wedding happened yet?

Katie’s and Jake’s ideas for the wedding reception couldn’t have been more different.

Compound Nouns and Possession

If a compound noun is used to show possession, use an ‘s or s’ with the last element.

Examples:

Her mother-in-law’s story was published in a magazine.

Her in-laws’ personalities were hard to deal with.

When not to use the Apostrophe: In Plurals and Verbs

It is very easy to confuse possessive and plural forms of words.

Sarah’s new slippers have pink ribbons.

Slippers and ribbons are plural words - there is more than one slipper, and there is more than ribbon. But Sarah’s, the word with the ‘s, is possessive. Sarah owns the slippers that have pink ribbons.

Many verbs end in s- for example, the word owns.

Sarah owns the slippers that have pink ribbons.

Do not put an apostrophe in a verb.

More on When not to use the Apostrophe

Usually an apostrophe is not used to pluralize numbers, letters, abbreviations, and words mentioned as words. Sometimes it does happen though. Here are the rules and any exceptions. Whichever direction you choose to follow when writing, the number one thing to remember is to simply stay consistent with whether you use an apostrophe or not when using pluralized numbers, letters, abbreviations, and words mentioned as words.

Plural Numbers Example:

Do not use an apostrophe in the plural of all numbers, including decades.

Julie skated perfect figure 8s in the winter Olympics.

The 1920s are known as the Jazz Age.

Plural Letters Example:

Here the apostrophe is optional. When writing a paper or letter be consistent.

Three large Ks (or K’s) were sprayed painted on the cement wall.

Plural Abbreviations Example:

Do not use an apostrophe to pluralize an abbreviation.

The college graduate has two PhDs on his diploma.

I still owe twenty IOUs out of twenty-five.

Plural of Words Mentioned as Words Example:

Usually you should omit the apostrophe.

I heard too many nos and maybes today.

When words are mentioned as words in quotation marks, use the apostrophe.

I’ve heard enough “maybe’s” for one day.

Answers Practice 1:

You will = You’ll

She will = She’ll

You would = You’d

It is = It’s

I would = I’d

Who is = Who’s

What is = What’s

I am = I’m

That is = That’s

Does not = Doesn’t

Do not = Don’t

Is not = Isn’t

Are not = Aren’t

Will not = Won’t

Did not = Didn’t

They are = They’re