The apostrophe is a mark of punctuation which you need to meet if this is your first visit to Language Lab. Monsieur Apostrophe’s a cool dude who can be very useful to you—if you know how to handle him.   Oui, that is correct. You must be very careful and diplomatic if you don’t want to offend. Brushing and flossing after meals is not enough this time. You've got to watch what you do if you don't want to slide down the slope into the crevasse of ignorance. One of his most common uses is to indicate the possessive case of nouns and indefinite pronouns. For example:

the skier’s race   Donald’s car   two weeks’ pay   everybody’s pal

Note that the plural nouns ending in s form the possessive by adding only an apostrophe. Nouns which don’t form the plural with an s add the apostrophe and s. For example:

her sons’ room   ten dollars’ worth   men’s watches   women’s names   children’s rights   Ames’ house

Note also that with compound words you add the apostrophe and s only to the last word. For example:

his father-in-law’s job     the Dean of Students’ rules

A second important use of the apostrophe is to indicate omissions in contractions and numbers. For example:

didn’t    they’re   there’s    class of ’99    o’clock

A third use of the apostrophe is to form certain plurals. For example:

his e’s and o’s    too many I’s    several A’s

One of the errors which could certainly offend Monsieur Apostrophe (who has a low threshold of tolerance for grammar crimes) is using an apostrophe with personal pronouns or with plural nouns not in the possessive case. For example:

It’s motor is small. (NO, NO, NO. This is intolerable. It should be “Its motor is small.”)
Who’s responsibility is it? (NO, NO, NO. This is a crime against civilization. It should be “Whose responsibility is it?”)

Now, calm down, Monsieur Apostrophe. Don’t get your back out of whack. Don’t get your fin in a spin. Don’t get your . . .okay, I’ll quit. Here are a few sentences to try on your own, guys and dolls. Insert apostrophes where needed. Answers at bottom of page.


1. Many students attitudes changed in the early 1990s.
2. Two of Mr. Charles students won awards for their essays.
3.  My bosss unpredictable rages are bad for company morale.
4. Ahmad dislikes football. Its roughness disturbs him.
5. Snapshots of the class of 99 cover Alicias bulletin board.
6. “Its just one MDs opinion, isnt it?” Jehan asked.
7. There are four is and four ss in Mississippi.
8. Theres a world of difference between Toms ability and theirs.
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(Answers below)

ANSWERS
1. Many students’ attitudes changed in the early 1990’s.
2.  Two of  Mr. Charles’ students won awards for their essays.
3.  My boss’s unpredictable rages are bad for company morale.
4.  Ahmad dislikes football. Its roughness disturbs him.
5.  Snapshots of the class of ’99 cover Alicia’s bulletin board.
6.  “It’s just one MD’s opinion, isn’t it?” Jehan asked.
7.  There are four i’s and four s’s in Mississippi.
8.  There’s a world of difference between Tom’s ability and theirs.