Apostrophe, Possessive, & Plural - ACT English

city's. Singular possessive of city.

Mice. Irregular plural form with internal vowel change.

children. Irregular plural form of child.

No error. Family name ending in s shows possession correctly.

men. Irregular plural form of man.

Correct: 'The children's toys are scattered.'. Irregular plural 'children' takes apostrophe + s.

Charles's or Charles'. Both forms acceptable for names ending in s.

foxes. Add -es to nouns ending in x.

children's. Irregular plural takes apostrophe + s.

mice. Irregular plural form of mouse.

Correct: 'The car's engine is noisy.'. Single car ownership needs apostrophe + s.

woman's. Singular noun gets apostrophe + s.

Correct: 'The dogs are playing.'. Plural noun as subject, not possessive case.

Indicate possession or form contractions. Two key uses: showing ownership and making contractions.

its. Pronoun possessive never uses apostrophe.

James's or James'. Names ending in s accept both possessive forms.

heroes. Add -es to nouns ending in o.

Ana and Luis's car. Joint possession puts 's only on the last owner's name.

its. Pronoun possessive never uses apostrophe.

bosses'. Plural nouns ending in s only need an apostrophe after the s.

boss's. Singular nouns ending in s still add 's for possession.

Correct: "its tail". The possessive pronoun its never takes an apostrophe.

Correct: "its profits". It's is a contraction meaning 'it is' or 'it has.'

It's. It's contracts 'it is' in this weather statement.

its. Its shows possession without an apostrophe.

Correct: "Three apples". Plural nouns don't use apostrophes for simple quantity.

Correct: "the 1990s". Decades are plural, not possessive, so no apostrophe.

Correct: "As and Bs". Letter grades as plurals don't need apostrophes.

students'. Multiple students require plural possessive form.