There are so many apostrophe questions on the ACT® English section. They're pretty straightforward, but a lot of students get them wrong. Understanding how to use them correctly can significantly improve your score. This guide will cover the main rules for apostrophe usage and prove practice questions.
What is an apostrophe?
An apostrophe is this punctuation mark: '
It's important to note that apostrophes do not make words plural. In English, we typically add an "s" or "es" to make things plural (e.g., 1 dog → 2 dogs, 1 fox → 2 foxes). There are some exceptions to this rule, but none of them involve using an apostrophe.
Apostrophes have two main uses: to show possession and to form contractions. Let's explore each of these in detail.
Apostrophes for Contractions
Contractions are shortened forms of words or phrases. We use an apostrophe to indicate where letters have been removed. Here are some common examples:
- cannot → can't
- I am → I'm
- He is → He's
- They are → They're
Understanding contractions is crucial for the ACT® English section, especially when it comes to distinguishing between similar-sounding words.
Common Confusion: They're, There, and Their
These words are often confused but have distinct meanings:
- They're = they are (contraction)
- There = indicates location
- Their = shows possession
To remember the difference, note that "they're" can always be expanded to "they are". If this doesn't make sense in the sentence, it's the wrong choice.
The "Should of" Error
The ACT® often tests the incorrect phrase "should of". This is a common mistake based on how "should've" (the contraction of "should have") sounds when spoken. Remember:
- Correct: should've, could've, would've
- Incorrect: should of, could of, would of
These contractions can always be expanded: "should've" → "should have".
Apostrophes for Possession
The second main use of apostrophes is to show possession. Here are the basic rules:
- For singular nouns, add 's: The dog's tail
- For plural nouns ending in s, add only an apostrophe: The boys' decision
- For singular nouns ending in s, still add 's: The bus's driver
Some irregular plurals don't end in s. In these cases, we add 's:
- The children's toys
- The women's rights
Special Cases: Possessives Without Apostrophes
There are a few special possessive pronouns that don't use apostrophes:
- its (possessive) vs. it's (contraction of "it is")
- whose (possessive) vs. who's (contraction of "who is")
- Other possessive pronouns: my, his, her, our, their, your
The ACT® Test frequently tests these exceptions, so it's important to memorize them.
Practice Section
Let's practice applying what we've learned about apostrophes with an ACT®-style question:
Practice Question:
The girls' decided it was in their best interest if they attended the game together.
- A) No change
- B) girl's
- C) girls
- D) girl's'
Click for the Answer and Explanation
Correct Answer: C. girls
Explanation:
In this sentence, "girls" isn't possessing anything. It's simply a plural noun referring to a group of girls. Therefore, no apostrophe is needed. The correct form is the plural "girls."
Remember: apostrophes are used for possession or contraction, not for making words plural. In this case, we just need the plural form of "girl."
Quick Reference Chart
Apostrophe Usage Quick Reference
| Form | Usage |
|---|---|
| it's | Contraction of "it is" |
| its | Possessive form of "it" |
| who's | Contraction of "who is" |
| whose | Possessive form of "who" |
| they're | Contraction of "they are" |
| there | Indicates location |
| their | Possessive form of "they" |