Exercise: Apostrophes

Insert, delete, or move apostrophes in the sentences as needed; if the sentence is correct as is, write 'correct'. The key is below the exercise.

Note: This exercise is taken from p. 188 of Reviewing Basic Grammar, by Mary Laine Yarber and Robert E. Yarber. It is intended for the sole use of students in my ENGL 390 class.

1. The swimming pool schedule has been changed while its being painted.

2. Karls' grandparents came to this country from Sweden.

3. In recent years the mens rights movement has attracted many followers.

4. Over one hundred guests attended the couples wedding.

5. Is this wallet your's?

6. The mayor continued to ignore the veterans demands when they marched on City Hall.

7. The dog seems to have lost its way home.

8. I suppose it was just somebodys attempt at humor.

9. It was obvious from boths' appearance that they had been in the water.

10. Helen and Eddie's grades in Spanish began to improve after the midterm examination.

11. "Who's on First?" is one of Abbot and Costellos funniest routines.

12. The salesmens' bonus was less than they had expected.

13. The poison could be identified by its deadly smell.

14. The policeman wanted to know who's car was parked illegally in front of the firehouse.

15. Mr. and Mrs. Kellys children surprised their parents with an anniversary party.
 
 
 
 
 

KEY

1. The swimming pool schedule has been changed while it's being painted. (= 'it is')

2. Karl's grandparents came to this country from Sweden. ('Karl' is a singular proper name.)

3. In recent years the men's rights movement has attracted many followers. ('Men' is already marked plural; so both apostrophe and < s > are needed to mark possessive.

4. Over one hundred guests attended the couple's wedding. (Same as #3)

5. Is this wallet yours? (Possessive pronouns such as 'mine', 'theirs', 'yours' do not get apostrophes.)

6. The mayor continued to ignore the veterans' demands when they marched on City Hall. (< s > marks plural; apostrophe marks possessive)

7. The dog seems to have lost its way home. (Possessive determiners such as 'my', 'his', 'its' do not get apostrophes.)

8. I suppose it was just somebody's attempt at humor. ('Somebody' is an idefinite pronoun; these act like singular nouns.)

9. It was obvious from both's appearance that they had been in the water. (See #4.)

10. Helen's and Eddie's grades in Spanish began to improve after the midterm examination. (The grades are separate, so each noun gets its own apostrophe.)

11. "Who's on First?" is one of Abbot and Costellos funniest routines. Correct: Short for 'who is'.

12. The salesmen's bonus was less than they had expected. (See #3.)

13. The poison could be identified by its deadly smell. Correct; see #7.)

14. The policeman wanted to know whose car was parked illegally in front of the firehouse. (Possessive determiner.)

15. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly's children surprised their parents with an anniversary party. ('Mr. and Mrs. Kelly' form a unit, as the children belong to both of them.)