Test Your Understanding Of Apostrophes Quiz

1. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

Its time to buy new book's for our semester two class's.

Its time to buy new books for our semester two classes.

It's time to buy new books for our semester two classes.

It's time to buy new book's for our semester two classes'.

Use an apostrophe in "It's" because it is a contracion of "it is." Do not use apostrphes for "books" or "classes" because both words are plural, not possessive.

Explanation

Use an apostrophe in "It's" because it is a contracion of "it is." Do not use apostrphes for "books" or "classes" because both words are plural, not possessive.

2. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

The womans skin was raw where her boot's rubbed against her heel's.

The woman's skin was raw where her boots' rubbed against her heels'.

The woman's skin was raw where her boots rubbed against her heels.

The womans' skin was raw where her boots rubbed against her heel's.

Use an apostrophe in "woman's" because it is the possessive form of the word "woman" (one woman). Do not use apostrophes in "boots" or "heels" because these words are plural, not possessive.

Explanation

Use an apostrophe in "woman's" because it is the possessive form of the word "woman" (one woman). Do not use apostrophes in "boots" or "heels" because these words are plural, not possessive.

3. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

Its a great recipe that calls for tomatoe's, onions, and lots of spices.

It's a great recipe that calls for tomatoe's, onion's, and lots of spice's.

Its a great recipe that calls for tomatoes, onions, and lots of spices.

It's a great recipe that calls for tomatoes, onions, and lots of spices.

Use an apostrophe in "It's" because it is a contraction of the words "it is." Do not use apostrophes for "tomatoes, "onions," or "spices," because they are all plural, not possessive.

Explanation

Use an apostrophe in "It's" because it is a contraction of the words "it is." Do not use apostrophes for "tomatoes, "onions," or "spices," because they are all plural, not possessive.

4. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly. (Hint: There are many students)

The box containing the students' new notebooks tipped over on its side.

The box containing the students' new notebooks tipped over on it's side.

The box containing the student's new notebook's tipped over on its side.

The box containing the student's new notebook's tipped over on it's side.

Use an apostrophe after the final "s" in "students'" because it is both plural and possessive. Do not use an apostrophe for "notebooks" because it is possessive. Do not use an apostrophe for "its" because it is NOT a contraction of the words "it is" or "it has."

Explanation

Use an apostrophe after the final "s" in "students'" because it is both plural and possessive. Do not use an apostrophe for "notebooks" because it is possessive. Do not use an apostrophe for "its" because it is NOT a contraction of the words "it is" or "it has."

5. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

After the secret text message's were revealed, Justin's and Michelle's relationship was over.

After the secret text messages were revealed, Justin and Michelle's relationship was over.

After the secret text messages' were revealed, Justin and Michelle's relationship was over.

After the secret text messages were revealed, Justin's and Michelle's relationship was over.

Do not use an apostrophe in "messages" because it is plural. Use an apostrophe after "Michelle," but not "Justin," because Michelle and Justin share a relationship, so you form the possessive of the final name only.

Explanation

Do not use an apostrophe in "messages" because it is plural. Use an apostrophe after "Michelle," but not "Justin," because Michelle and Justin share a relationship, so you form the possessive of the final name only.

6. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

Both the DVD and it's packaging were damaged when the shopping carts ran over them.

Both the DVD and it's packaging were damaged when the shopping cart's ran over them.

Both the DVD and its packaging were damaged when the shopping cart's ran over them.

Both the DVD and its packaging were damaged when the shopping carts ran over them.

Do not use an apostrophe in "its" because it is NOT a contraction of the words "it is" or "it has." Do not use an apostrophe in "carts" because it is plural, not possessive.

Explanation

Do not use an apostrophe in "its" because it is NOT a contraction of the words "it is" or "it has." Do not use an apostrophe in "carts" because it is plural, not possessive.

7. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

All of the country's leaders attended the international conferences following Irans nuclear weapons test.

All of the country's leader's attended the international conference's following Iran's nuclear weapons test.

All of the countries' leaders attended the international conferences following Iran's nuclear weapons test.

All of the countrie's leaders attended the international conferences following Iran's nuclear weapons test.

There are many countries at international conferences, so express countries as plural, then add " 's" to make it possessive. Do not use an apostrophe for "leaders" or "conferences" because they are plural, not possessive. Use an apostrophe in "Iran's" because it is possessive.

Explanation

There are many countries at international conferences, so express countries as plural, then add " 's" to make it possessive. Do not use an apostrophe for "leaders" or "conferences" because they are plural, not possessive. Use an apostrophe in "Iran's" because it is possessive.

8. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

Lets forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friend's.

Let's forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friends.

Let's forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; its been an awful experience for us and our friends.

Lets forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friends'.

The correct sentence is B: "Let's forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friends." "Let's" is the contraction for "let us," and "it's" is the contraction for "it has." "Friends" is plural and does not need an apostrophe because it is not showing possession. This sentence correctly uses apostrophes to form contractions and avoids unnecessary apostrophes in plural words.

Explanation

The correct sentence is B: "Let's forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friends." "Let's" is the contraction for "let us," and "it's" is the contraction for "it has." "Friends" is plural and does not need an apostrophe because it is not showing possession. This sentence correctly uses apostrophes to form contractions and avoids unnecessary apostrophes in plural words.

9. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

Canada's men's hockey team wins gold medals almost every year.

Canada's men's hockey team wins gold medal's almost every year.

Canada's mens' hockey team wins gold medals almost every year.

Canada's mens hockey team win's gold medals almost every year.

Use an apostrophe in "Canada's" because it is possessive. Use an apostrophe in "men's" because it is the possessive of a plural noun that does not end in "s". Do not use an apostrophe in "wins" because it is an action word, not a possessive noun. Do not use an apostrophe in "medals" because it is a plural word, not a possessive word.

Explanation

Use an apostrophe in "Canada's" because it is possessive. Use an apostrophe in "men's" because it is the possessive of a plural noun that does not end in "s". Do not use an apostrophe in "wins" because it is an action word, not a possessive noun. Do not use an apostrophe in "medals" because it is a plural word, not a possessive word.

10. Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.

Since the school's homework club started, Leslie and Tim's marks have both improved.

Since the school's homework club started, Leslie's and Tim's marks have both improved.

Since the school's homework club started, Leslie's and Tim's mark's have both improved.

Since the schools' homework club started, Leslie and Tim's marks have both improved.

The correct sentence is B: "Since the school's homework club started, Leslie's and Tim's marks have both improved." This sentence correctly uses apostrophes to indicate possession. "School's" shows the club belongs to the school, and "Leslie's" and "Tim's" show that the marks belong to Leslie and Tim individually. Each name requires its own apostrophe to correctly indicate possession of their respective marks.

Explanation

The correct sentence is B: "Since the school's homework club started, Leslie's and Tim's marks have both improved." This sentence correctly uses apostrophes to indicate possession. "School's" shows the club belongs to the school, and "Leslie's" and "Tim's" show that the marks belong to Leslie and Tim individually. Each name requires its own apostrophe to correctly indicate possession of their respective marks.