Test Your Understanding Of Apostrophes Quiz
They’re one of the most commonly used marks in all of punctuation and grammar, but you’d be surprised by how few people actually know the proper way to use them. Do you know apostrophes as well as you should? Test your understanding of apostrophes in this quiz! Good luck!
- 1.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
Its time to buy new book's for our semester two class's.
- B.
Its time to buy new books for our semester two classes.
- C.
It's time to buy new books for our semester two classes.
- D.
It's time to buy new book's for our semester two classes'.
Correct Answer
C. It's time to buy new books for our semester two classes.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.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
Canada's men's hockey team wins gold medals almost every year.
- B.
Canada's men's hockey team wins gold medal's almost every year.
- C.
Canada's mens' hockey team wins gold medals almost every year.
- D.
Canada's mens hockey team win's gold medals almost every year.
Correct Answer
A. Canada's men's hockey team wins gold medals almost every year.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.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
All of the country's leaders attended the international conferences following Irans nuclear weapons test.
- B.
All of the country's leader's attended the international conference's following Iran's nuclear weapons test.
- C.
All of the countries' leaders attended the international conferences following Iran's nuclear weapons test.
- D.
All of the countrie's leaders attended the international conferences following Iran's nuclear weapons test.
Correct Answer
C. All of the countries' leaders attended the international conferences following Iran's nuclear weapons test.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.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
After the secret text message's were revealed, Justin's and Michelle's relationship was over.
- B.
After the secret text messages were revealed, Justin and Michelle's relationship was over.
- C.
After the secret text messages' were revealed, Justin and Michelle's relationship was over.
- D.
After the secret text messages were revealed, Justin's and Michelle's relationship was over.
Correct Answer
B. After the secret text messages were revealed, Justin and Michelle's relationship was over.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.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
Both the DVD and it's packaging were damaged when the shopping carts ran over them.
- B.
Both the DVD and it's packaging were damaged when the shopping cart's ran over them.
- C.
Both the DVD and its packaging were damaged when the shopping cart's ran over them.
- D.
Both the DVD and its packaging were damaged when the shopping carts ran over them.
Correct Answer
D. Both the DVD and its packaging were damaged when the shopping carts ran over them.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.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
Since the school's homework club started, Leslie and Tim's marks have both improved.
- B.
Since the school's homework club started, Leslie's and Tim's marks have both improved.
- C.
Since the school's homework club started, Leslie's and Tim's mark's have both improved.
- D.
Since the schools' homework club started, Leslie and Tim's marks have both improved.
Correct Answer
B. Since the school's homework club started, Leslie's and Tim's marks have both improved.Explanation
Use an apostrophe in "school's" because it is a possessive form of the word "school." Use apostrophes for BOTH "Leslie's" and "Tim's" because Leslie and Tim do not share marks; each has his or her own. Do not use an apostrophe in "marks," because it is plural, not possessive.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
Lets forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friend's.
- B.
Let's forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friends.
- C.
Let's forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; its been an awful experience for us and our friends.
- D.
Lets forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friends'.
Correct Answer
B. Let's forget that we ever tried to build a floating car; it's been an awful experience for us and our friends.Explanation
Use an apostrophe in "Let's" because it is a contraction of the words "let us." Use an apostrophe in "it's" because it is a contraction of the words "it has." Do not use an apostrophe in "friends" because it is plural, not possessive.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
Its a great recipe that calls for tomatoe's, onions, and lots of spices.
- B.
It's a great recipe that calls for tomatoe's, onion's, and lots of spice's.
- C.
Its a great recipe that calls for tomatoes, onions, and lots of spices.
- D.
It's a great recipe that calls for tomatoes, onions, and lots of spices.
Correct Answer
D. It's a great recipe that calls for tomatoes, onions, and lots of spices.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.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly.
- A.
The womans skin was raw where her boot's rubbed against her heel's.
- B.
The woman's skin was raw where her boots' rubbed against her heels'.
- C.
The woman's skin was raw where her boots rubbed against her heels.
- D.
The womans' skin was raw where her boots rubbed against her heel's.
Correct Answer
C. The woman's skin was raw where her boots rubbed against her heels.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.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Choose the sentence that uses apostrophes correctly. (Hint: There are many students)
- A.
The box containing the students' new notebooks tipped over on its side.
- B.
The box containing the students' new notebooks tipped over on it's side.
- C.
The box containing the student's new notebook's tipped over on its side.
- D.
The box containing the student's new notebook's tipped over on it's side.
Correct Answer
A. The box containing the students' new notebooks tipped over on its side.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."Rate this question:
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