The apostrophe, though a tiny punctuation mark, is an important
part of writing. The rules are simple.
If
you omit a word, a letter, or
a number, use an apostrophe
to mark the omission.
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Examples of omission or
contraction:
| can't >
cannot |
isn't > is
not |
doesn't >
does not |
| aren't >
are not |
I'm > I am |
weren't >
were not |
| they're >
they are |
won't >
will not |
haven't >
have not |
| it's > it
is |
who's >
who is |
wouldn't >
would not |
Examples:
- It's
going to be a long winter this year.
(It's
stands for it is).
- What's
the significance of the title of the story?
(What's
is a contraction for What
is).
- I've
been thinking seriously of dropping this course.
(I've
stands for I have
in this sentence).
Note: Contractions
are quite common in conversation and informal writing, but
avoid them in most academic writing.
Do
not use an apostrophe
- (i) with
possessive pronouns such as its, his, hers, ours, yours,
and theirs
- (ii) when a singular verb or
a plural noun ends in s
-
- Incorrect:
The cinema hall next block show's old movie's.
Here the third-person singular verb
shows
and plural noun movies
do not require any apostrophe.
- Revised:
The cinema hall next block shows
old movies.
- Incorrect:
My cat has hurt it's
nose badly on the thorny bushes.
Its
used as a possessive pronoun in this sentence does not require
an apostrophe.
- Revised:
My cat has hurt its
nose badly on the thorny bushes.
Note: It's
means it is; its
means possession (of it).
Next to Apostrophes 1: Test Yourself
Back to Tenses: Exercise 3
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