Apostrophe Use Exercise (256)

Edit the following sentences to include apostrophes where needed.

Answers and Explanations

1.
Original: Whos the principals choice for Best Student this year?
Correct : Who’s the principal’s choice for Best Student this year?

Who’s: contraction for "who is." Principal’s: possessive, governing choice.

2.
Original: My dog ruined one of my best books yesterday by shredding its spine.
Correct : My dog ruined one of my best books yesterday by shredding its spine.

No apostrophes needed. Books is a plural and its is a possessive adjective governing the noun spine.

3.
Original: The churchs hospitality committee planned a party for this years new mothers to be held in the nursery.
Correct : The church’s hospitality committee planned a party for this year’s new mothers to be held in the nursery.

Church’s: possessive governing "hospitality committee"; year’s: possessive governing "new mothers."

4.
Original: In a months time itll be too late to plant the best of the summers flowering vines.
Correct : In a month’s time it’ll be too late to plant the best of the summer’s flowering vines.

Month’s: possessive governing time; it’ll: contraction for "it will"; summer’s: possessive governing "flowering vines."

5.
Original: Didnt you hear the news? The building owners say theyre raising everybodys rent next month.
Correct : Didn’t you hear the news? The building owners say they’re raising everybody’s rent next month.

Didn’t: contraction for "did not"; they’re: contraction for "they are"; everybody’s: possessive governing rent.

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