Apostrophe Rules

Using apostrophes for possession and contractions

beginner

When to Use

•Possession (singular): the dog's tail, John's book.
•Possession (plural ending in s): the dogs' tails, the teachers' room.
•Possession (plural not ending in s): the children's toys, the men's room.
•Contractions: don't, can't, it's (it is), they're (they are).
•Not for plurals: apples (not apple's), the 1990s (not 1990's).

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Singular: noun + 's. Plural ending in s: noun + '. Plural not ending in s: noun + 's

Negative (-)

Same rules apply

Question (?)

Same rules apply

💡 It's = it is/it has. Its = possession (no apostrophe). Who's = who is. Whose = possession.

Examples

✓The cat's food is here.

✗The cats food is here.

Singular possession needs 's.

✓The students' books are on the desk.

✗The student's books are on the desk (if multiple students).

Plural ending in s: add apostrophe after s.

✓It's raining.

✗Its raining.

It's = it is; its = possession.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Possession: 's for singular; s' for plural ending in s.
• Contractions: apostrophe replaces missing letters.
• It's = it is; its = possession (no apostrophe).
• Never use apostrophe for simple plurals.

comma-rules possessive-pronouns countable-uncountable 📝 punctuation-beginner 📝 apostrophe-quiz

Apostrophe Rules

Using apostrophes for possession and contractions

beginner

When to Use

•Possession (singular): the dog's tail, John's book.
•Possession (plural ending in s): the dogs' tails, the teachers' room.
•Possession (plural not ending in s): the children's toys, the men's room.
•Contractions: don't, can't, it's (it is), they're (they are).
•Not for plurals: apples (not apple's), the 1990s (not 1990's).

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Singular: noun + 's. Plural ending in s: noun + '. Plural not ending in s: noun + 's

Negative (-)

Same rules apply

Question (?)

Same rules apply

💡 It's = it is/it has. Its = possession (no apostrophe). Who's = who is. Whose = possession.

Examples

✓The cat's food is here.

✗The cats food is here.

Singular possession needs 's.

✓The students' books are on the desk.

✗The student's books are on the desk (if multiple students).

Plural ending in s: add apostrophe after s.

✓It's raining.

✗Its raining.

It's = it is; its = possession.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Possession: 's for singular; s' for plural ending in s.
• Contractions: apostrophe replaces missing letters.
• It's = it is; its = possession (no apostrophe).
• Never use apostrophe for simple plurals.

comma-rules possessive-pronouns countable-uncountable 📝 punctuation-beginner 📝 apostrophe-quiz

Apostrophe Rules

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Apostrophe Rules

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗The dog wagged it's tail.

✗I bought some apple's.

✗Whose coming to the party?

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗The dog wagged it's tail.

✗I bought some apple's.

✗Whose coming to the party?

💡 Practice Tips

Related