SAT Writing : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The boy's teacher had forgotten to correct their homework; she had spent the entire night planning the new geography lesson. No error
The boy's
planning
homework; she
had forgotten
No error
The boy's
Be watchful of possessive plural nouns: here, the correct apostrophe will be at the end of the word: "boys'" is correct because the subject is plural.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Alyssa collected hundreds of childrens' hats, scarves, gloves, and coats for the local shelter's winter clothing drive. No error
shelter's
childrens'
hundreds of
gloves and,
No error
childrens'
The correct possessive form for "children" is "children's," not "childrens." "Children" is a noun that changes form in plural, from "child" to "children" instead of "childs." In irregular plural nouns that do not end in "s," you need to add an apostrophe followed by an "s" to form the possessive form of the word. For plural nouns ending in "s" such as "girls," you need to add the apostrophe at the end, but not an "s." For example, the possessive of "girls" is "girls'."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
More often than not, we could expect to find Larry with the Davis's family in their new swimming pool. No error.
No error
their
More often than not
the Davis's
could expect
the Davis's
The above sentence's error is "the Davis's," as "Davis" is not a possessive noun in this case and therefore does not need an apostrophe.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The girl's swim coach was always at least 30 minutes early for practice; they could always count on her to be ready as soon as they walked in. No error.
practice; they
girl's
No error
as soon as
at least
girl's
The sentence indicates that there is more than one girl on the team by using the word "they;" therefore, "the girl's" needs to be changed to "the girls'" in order to reflect the correct possessive plural form.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The teachers made it a point every day to address the childrens' behavior appropriately; they gave rewards to the students who followed expectations and demerits to those who did not. No error.
those who
who followed expectations
childrens'
No error
they
childrens'
The correct possessive form for "children" is always "children's" and never "childrens'."
Example Question #131 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Scientists have been tracking the Canadian geeses’ migratory patterns for the better part of thirty years, and they have begun to notice some unusual habits. No error.
the better
have begun
geeses'
No error.
have been tracking
geeses'
The plural of goose is “geese,” not “geeses,” so the correct possessive form would be “geese’s.” "The better part of" is a commonly used phrase, and "have been tracking" and "have begun" are both the correct forms of the present perfect.
Example Question #135 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Everyone at the hospital was complaining bitterly about the new overtime policy; the nurse’s station in particular was a hotbed of dissent. No error.
about
dissent.
No error.
policy;
nurse's station
nurse's station
Because multiple nurses work at the hospital, we need a plural possessive: “nurses’ station” is the correct form. Elsewhere in the sentence, “about” is the correct preposition to use with “complaining,” “dissent” is a word that means strong disagreement, and the semicolon is used correctly to separate two independent clauses.
Example Question #81 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
The fervency of the congregation’s prayers was felt by everyone at the service as Our Father’s rang out left and right. No error.
No error.
fervency
as
congregation's
Our Father's
Our Father's
The correct plural of “Our Father” is “Our Fathers.” No apostrophe is used to form the plural. Because there’s only one congregation at the service, “congregation’s” is the correct possessive.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Journalists and animal enthusiasts alike flocked to the wolf's enclosure to gawk at the pack’s newest litter. No error.
gawk at
alike
No error.
pack's
wolf's
wolf's
Because there’s an entire pack of wolves (and some new pups!), the singular possessive “wolf’s enclosure” should actually be “wolves’ enclosure.” “Pack’s” has the correct apostrophe form.
Example Question #4 : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
With Phil being so new and inexperienced at the bakery job, the supervisor was constantly forced to check on things like the pastries’ consistency and the loafs’ quality. No error.
loafs'
being
to check on things like
pastries'
No error.
loafs'
The correct plural of loaf is loaves, not loafs, so the possessive should be loaves’, not loafs’.
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