Weekly Grammar Worksheet: Apostrophes Answer Key – Mastering Possession and Contraction

Apostrophes are small but mighty punctuation marks that often cause confusion. They primarily serve two vital roles in English grammar: indicating possession and forming contractions. Understanding how to use them correctly is crucial for clear and effective writing. This guide provides an overview of a typical “Weekly Grammar Worksheet: Apostrophes Answer Key,” breaking down the common rules and addressing potential pitfalls.

Possessive Apostrophes: Showing Ownership

The most frequent use of apostrophes is to show that something belongs to someone or something else. The basic rule is simple: add an apostrophe and an ‘s’ (‘s) to singular nouns and indefinite pronouns.

Example: The dog’s bone. (The bone belongs to the dog.)

Example: Someone’s keys were left on the table. (The keys belong to someone.)

For plural nouns that already end in ‘s’, you simply add an apostrophe after the ‘s’.

Example: The students’ desks. (The desks belong to the students.)

However, for plural nouns that *don’t* end in ‘s’ (irregular plurals), you add an apostrophe and an ‘s’ (‘s), just like with singular nouns.

Example: The children’s toys. (The toys belong to the children.)

Example: The men’s restroom. (The restroom is for men.)

When showing joint possession (ownership by multiple entities), you only need to add the apostrophe (and ‘s’ if applicable) to the last noun in the list. If they own separate things, each noun needs the possessive apostrophe.

Example (joint): John and Mary’s house. (John and Mary share one house.)

Example (separate): John’s and Mary’s cars. (John and Mary each have their own car.)

Contractions: Combining Words

Apostrophes are also used to create contractions, which combine two words into one, omitting letters. The apostrophe marks the place where letters have been removed.

Common Contractions:

• is not = isn’t
• cannot = can’t
• will not = won’t
• I am = I’m
• you are = you’re
• they are = they’re
• it is = it’s
• would have = would’ve

A frequent error involves confusing “its” (possessive) with “it’s” (contraction of “it is” or “it has”). “Its” shows possession without an apostrophe, while “it’s” always indicates a contraction.

Example: The dog wagged its tail. (Possessive)

Example: It’s a beautiful day. (Contraction of “It is”)

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

Many apostrophe errors stem from a misunderstanding of the possessive form or confusing contractions with possessive pronouns (like its/it’s, your/you’re, their/there/they’re). Carefully consider whether you need to show possession or are combining words.

Worksheet answer keys often include sentences designed to highlight these common mistakes. By practicing with these worksheets and carefully reviewing the answer key, you can drastically improve your apostrophe usage and write with greater confidence and accuracy.