Apostrophes Showing Possession | Practice: Snap Language™

Apostrophes Showing Possession | Video Lesson and Practice

This level:

advanced

Before you get started...

Before completing the exercise, watch the video below (and the members-only video) on our YouTube channel.

As you watch the videos, take notes focusing on the rules governing the use of apostrophes showing possession. Then use your notes and complete the exercise.

These rules are not set in stone. Grammarians recommend different uses in some situations. For example, “in Jesus’s name” sounds stilted because it is a common expression, usually seen as “in Jesus’ name.” On the other hand, “Ross’s car" may sound better than “Ross’ car."

Video Activity 1

Watch Using apostrophes in contractions and possessives and take good study notes.

Note. The video supports the information on this page. It is recommended you should study the page and watch the video in any order.

Video Activity 2 (Members Only)

Watch members-only bonus video and take good study notes.

Members-Only Material

Related video for Snap Language members: Bonus video: Using apostrophes. This is a non-ESL video, but you should be able to learn from it.

Practice

Instructions

Instructions. For each of the sentences below, use the word or words in parentheses to complete the blanks so that the sentence makes sense. Pay close attention to the use of apostrophes.

Note. Your answers will not be submitted. When you leave this page, they will be deleted.

1. Have you seen (Charles) new car?

Answer

Charles’s

2. What have you done? You have broken my (niece) camera. How could you be so careless, for (goodness) sake!

Answer

niece’s
goodness’

Note. You may see “for goodness sake,” without an apostrophe, fairly frequently. However, it makes more sense, semantically, to use an apostrophe in expressions with “sake.”

3. This wall is not very functional, but it was build for (appearance) sake.

Answer

appearance’

Note. This use of an apostrophe after a noun ending with an S-sound is unusual; however, it makes sense and keeps your use of apostrophes in expressions with “sake” consistent.

4. For underage children to participate in this study, we needed to secure their (parents) written consent.

Answer

parents’

5. Nowadays much of young (children) playtime is spent in front of a screen.

Answer

children’s

6. The poor cow stuck (it) nose on the electric fence and received a big shock.

Answer

its
There is no apostrophe in possessive pronouns or possessive adjectives such as his, its, hers, yours, etc.

7. I found (someone) wedding ring in the (men) breakroom

Answer

someone’s
men’s

8. A (Cisco Systems) sales representative called you while you were out of the office.

Answer

Cisco Systems’

9. (France and Italy) governments have agreed to strengthen their economic ties.

Answer

France’s and Italy’s

10. (Boys and girls) body images are an important issue as they go through puberty.

Answer

Boys’ and girls’

11. (Bob and Cheryl) statistics course is on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Answer

Bob and Cheryl’s

Note. This use of apostrophe is known as “joint possession” (or “joint ownership” ) and contrasts with “separate ownership” (as you saw in the previous items). From the context, you can tell that Bob and Cheryl are attending the same course, so you should treat them as a single group (of two).

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