ENG/P/2: USE OF APOSTROPHE

USE OF APOSTROPHE

The apostrophe is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritical mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet and some other alphabets. In English, the apostrophe is used for two basic purposes: The marking of the omission of one or more letters, e.g. the contraction of “do not” to “don’t”.

We use the apostrophe to write short forms of words.

Example

is not               –           isn’t

was not            –           wasn’t

they are           –           they’re

it is                  –           it’s

he is                 –           he’s

Activities

1. a) Giving short forms of words orally in this category.
2. b) Using the short form in sentences orally.

Exercise

Join these words using an apostrophe.

1. 1. a) has not ________________
   2. b) we are ________________
   3. c) did not ________________
   4. d) are not ________________
   5. e) have not ______________
   6. f) were not ______________
   7. g) that is _________________
   8. h) she is __________________
   9. i) should not _________________
   10. j) would not _________________
   11. k) will not ____________________
   12. l) cannot ____________________
   13. m) they have _________________
   14. n) shall not ___________________
   15. o) I am _______________________
   16. p) you are ____________________

Fill in the gaps with the short forms of the words in the brackets.

2. Rogers _____________________ coming to school today. (is not)
3. The dog ___________________ inside the kennel. (was not)
4. We _______________________ work when there is noise in the classroom. (cannot)
5. ________________ laugh at a lame man on the street. (do not)
6. My grandmother _____________________ like eating meat. (does not)
7. ______________________ raining now. (it is)
8. ______________________ two years on my head. (I have)
9. _____________________ a beautiful dress. (You have)
10. _____________________ playing outside. (they are)
    10. _____________________ a kind girl. (she is)

Use the apostrophe to show ownership or possession

Example

1. a) the teacher’s bag.
2. b) the dog’s tail.

Activities

Giving examples of the use of the apostrophe to show ownership.

Exercise I

Use apostrophe correctly in each of these sentences.

1. This is Susan book.
2. Where is the cats milk?
3. The pigs tail is smart.
4. Mans shoes are black.
5. I like the queens crown.
6. The sheeps wool is as white as snow.
7. Marys book is on the table.
8. Mothers ring is gold.
9. The bakers bread is sweet.
10. The farmers tractor is at the farm.