Revise Your Apostrophes: How to Use Them Correctly Worksheet

Many people get confused about apostrophes.

They are used for two main reasons: contraction and possession.

1) Contraction (sometimes called omission) is the term used when words are shortened by missing out letters.

for example:

can not / can't

I am / I'm

she is / she's

2) Possession means ownership and this is the area that a lot of people have trouble with.

The apostrophe comes before the 's' if there is only only one person involved.

the boy's toys

If there is more than one boy then the apostrophe comes after the 's'.

the boys' toys

Some plural nouns don't end in 's' so the apostrophe comes after the noun but before the 's'.

the children's toys

Many people put an apostrophe when they make a singular noun into a plural noun but this is not correct.

Cream tea's £3.50. (Incorrect)

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) Jamilas new puppies have long wavy tail's and big blue eyes.

2) Jamila's new puppies' have long wavy tails and big blue eyes.

2) Jamila's new puppies have long wavy tails and big blue eyes.

sentence 1

sentence 2

sentence 3

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) The childrens room was very untidy and the toy's hadnt been picked up off the floor.

2) The children's room was very untidy and the toys hadn't been picked up off the floor.

3) The childrens' room was very untidy and the toys hadn't been picked up off the floor.

sentence 1

sentence 2

sentence 3

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) The neighbour's cats were last seen being chased across the farmer's field by two vicious dog's.

2) The neighbour's cats were last seen being chased across the farmers field by two vicious dogs.

3) The neighbour's cats were last seen being chased across the farmer's field by two vicious dogs.

sentence 1

sentence 2

sentence 3

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) The women's coats were hanging in the hallway.

2) The womens' coats were hanging in the hallway.

3) The womens coats' were hanging in the hallway.

sentence 1

sentence 2

sentence 3

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) The men's changing room is currently being redecorated so theyr'e having to use the womens' one.

2) The mens' changing room is currently being redecorated so they're having to use the womens' one.

3) The men's changing room is currently being redecorated so they're having to use the women's one.

sentence 1

sentence 2

sentence 3

This time, rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

Childrens clothes are on the second floor next to the mens department.

Rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

Mum said shell give us a lift to Joes house but we cant stay very long.

Rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

Its my parents silver wedding anniversary on Saturday so were having a party at my uncles house.

Rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

Jacks dads new car is a Porsche and hes very proud of it.

Rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

The childrens bikes were leaning against the fence but they werent locked.

ANSWERS

Question 1

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) Jamilas new puppies have long wavy tail's and big blue eyes.

2) Jamila's new puppies' have long wavy tails and big blue eyes.

2) Jamila's new puppies have long wavy tails and big blue eyes.

CORRECT ANSWER

sentence 3

ANSWERS

Question 2

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) The childrens room was very untidy and the toy's hadnt been picked up off the floor.

2) The children's room was very untidy and the toys hadn't been picked up off the floor.

3) The childrens' room was very untidy and the toys hadn't been picked up off the floor.

CORRECT ANSWER

sentence 2

ANSWERS

Question 3

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) The neighbour's cats were last seen being chased across the farmer's field by two vicious dog's.

2) The neighbour's cats were last seen being chased across the farmers field by two vicious dogs.

3) The neighbour's cats were last seen being chased across the farmer's field by two vicious dogs.

CORRECT ANSWER

sentence 3

ANSWERS

Question 4

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) The women's coats were hanging in the hallway.

2) The womens' coats were hanging in the hallway.

3) The womens coats' were hanging in the hallway.

CORRECT ANSWER

sentence 1

ANSWERS

Question 5

Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?

1) The men's changing room is currently being redecorated so theyr'e having to use the womens' one.

2) The mens' changing room is currently being redecorated so they're having to use the womens' one.

3) The men's changing room is currently being redecorated so they're having to use the women's one.

CORRECT ANSWER

sentence 3

ANSWERS

Question 6

This time, rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

Childrens clothes are on the second floor next to the mens department.

CORRECT ANSWER

Children's clothes are on the second floor next to the men's department.
Children's clothes are on the second floor next to the men's department

ANSWERS

Question 7

Rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

Mum said shell give us a lift to Joes house but we cant stay very long.

CORRECT ANSWER

Mum said she'll give us a lift to Joe's house but we can't stay very long.
Mum said she'll give us a lift to Joe's house but we can't stay very long

ANSWERS

Question 8

Rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

Its my parents silver wedding anniversary on Saturday so were having a party at my uncles house.

CORRECT ANSWER

It's my parents' silver wedding anniversary on Saturday so we're having a party at my uncle's house.
It's my parents' silver wedding anniversary on Saturday so we're having a party at my uncle's house

ANSWERS

Question 9

Rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

Jacks dads new car is a Porsche and hes very proud of it.

CORRECT ANSWER

Jack's dad's new car is a Porsche and he's very proud of it.
Jack's dad's new car is a Porsche and he's very proud of it

ANSWERS

Question 10

Rewrite the sentence adding apostrophes in the correct places.

The childrens bikes were leaning against the fence but they werent locked.

CORRECT ANSWER

The children's bikes were leaning against the fence but they weren't locked.
The children's bikes were leaning against the fence but they weren't locked