Using apostrophes – the answers
Which of these needs apostrophes and where should they go if they do?
1
the childrens responsibility
the children’s responsibility
2
its paintwork
No apostrophe required, as it is not an abbreviated ‘it is’ and its
can never own anything.
3
mens interests
men’s interests
4
two girls reputations
two girls’ reputations
5
ones life
one’s life
6
womens work
women’s work
7
Yours is over there.
No apostrophe required
8
I know the ones you mean.
No apostrophe required
9
He was unaware that the car was theirs.
No apostrophe required
10
The sheep’s wool was spun on the farm.
Sheep is one of those nouns that breaks the rules, the apostrophe
never appears after the s, even when its plural.
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11
Which of these is correct?
a)
b)
c)
d)
I sat on the chair. One of it's legs were damaged.
I sat on the chair. One of its legs were damaged.
I sat on the chair. One of it's legs was damaged.
I sat on the chair. One of its legs was damaged.
Correct answer: D.
The possessive of "it" is "its" and not "it's". The apostrophe in "it's"
always show that something has been omitted - thus the word "it's"
means "it is" or "it has". Secondly, "were" is for use with plurals. Always
use "was" for singular. One leg is singular.
12
Which of these is correct?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Two familys went away together.
Two families went away together.
Two family's went away together.
Two familie's went away together.
Correct answer: B.
In English, we usually add an "s" in order to form a plural. There are
some places where we need to add "es" instead, while other words
break this rule completely. The word "family" is one such word. The
correct plural is “families".
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