Introduction: Apostrophe Usage English
Apostrophe usage English is fundamental to clear written communication and is regularly tested in competitive exams and school assessments. Apostrophes help show possession, create contractions, and indicate omitted letters and numbers, making it crucial for students and candidates to understand and apply these grammar rules confidently.
100+ Examples of Apostrophe Usage English with Meanings
| Example | Meaning/Usage |
|---|---|
| John’s book | Book belonging to John (possession) |
| Mary’s bag | Bag belonging to Mary (possession) |
| cats’ toys | Toys belonging to several cats (plural poss.) |
| the teachers’ room | Room used by multiple teachers (plural poss.) |
| children’s shoes | Shoes belonging to children (irregular plural) |
| dog’s leash | Leash belonging to the dog (possession) |
| the boys’ books | Books for the boys (plural poss.) |
| Tom’s idea | Idea from Tom (possession) |
| Jane’s car | Car belonging to Jane (possession) |
| the girls’ dresses | Dresses for the girls (plural poss.) |
| the men’s hats | Hats belonging to several men (irregular plural) |
| teacher’s desk | Desk of the teacher (possession) |
| my parents’ house | House of my parents (plural poss.) |
| Susan’s father | Father of Susan (possession) |
| team’s performance | Performance of the team (possession) |
| nobody’s fault | Fault of nobody (possession) |
| mother-in-law’s gift | Gift from mother-in-law (possession) |
| student’s answer | Answer from student (possession) |
| it’s raining | It is raining (contraction) |
| don’t go | Do not go (contraction) |
| can’t see | Cannot see (contraction) |
| didn’t attend | Did not attend (contraction) |
| I’m late | I am late (contraction) |
| we’ve arrived | We have arrived (contraction) |
| you’d forgotten | You had forgotten (contraction) |
| they’d gone | They had gone (contraction) |
| it’s sunny | It is sunny (contraction) |
| she’s happy | She is happy (contraction) |
| he’s working | He is working (contraction) |
| let’s start | Let us start (contraction) |
| wasn’t ready | Was not ready (contraction) |
| wasn’t working | Was not working (contraction) |
| should’ve called | Should have called (contraction) |
| who’s there | Who is there (contraction) |
| where’s my phone | Where is my phone (contraction) |
| how’s life | How is life (contraction) |
| could’ve left | Could have left (contraction) |
| you’ve done | You have done (contraction) |
| she’d gone | She had gone (contraction) |
| would’ve stayed | Would have stayed (contraction) |
| I’d like some tea | I would like some tea (contraction) |
| you’ll win | You will win (contraction) |
| we’ll visit | We will visit (contraction) |
| don’t forget | Do not forget (contraction |
| they’re leaving | They are leaving (contraction) |
| wasn’t her fault | Was not her fault (contraction) |
| students’ projects | Projects of students (plural poss.) |
| ’90s fashion | Fashion of the 1990s (numbers omitted) |
| o’er the hills | Over the hills (letter omitted) |
| li’l boy | Little boy (letters omitted) |
| great-grandfather’s watch | Watch belonging to great-grandfather (possession) |
| the book’s cover | Cover of the book (possession) |
| car’s engine | Engine of the car (possession) |
| boss’s decision | Decision of the boss (possession) |
| week’s progress | Progress of the week (possession) |
| John’s and Tom’s bikes | John and Tom each have a bike (two singular owners) |
| teachers’ lounge | Lounge for teachers (plural poss.) |
| the women’s meeting | Meeting of the women (irregular plural poss.) |
| its tail | The tail belonging to it (possessive pronoun) |
| it’s a sunny day | It is a sunny day (contraction) |
| you’re responsible | You are responsible (contraction) |
| student’s results | Results of student (possession) |
| company’s policy | Policy of company (possession) |
| dog’s bone | Bone belonging to dog (possession) |
| parents’ permission | Permission of parents (plural poss.) |
| wife’s suggestion | Suggestion of wife (possession) |
| children’s homework | Homework of children (irregular plural poss.) |
| men’s decisions | Decisions of men (irregular plural poss.) |
| a year’s time | Time of a year (possession) |
| workers’ demands | Demands of workers (plural poss.) |
| friend’s house | House of friend (possession) |
| neighbor’s garden | Garden of neighbor (possession) |
| baby’s toy | Toy belonging to baby (possession) |
| ‘cause I’m tired | Because I am tired (contraction/omission) |
| door’s handle | Handle on the door (possession) |
| Jane’s shoes | Shoes belonging to Jane (possession) |
| Mr. Smith’s class | Class of Mr. Smith (possession) |
| team’s captain | Captain of team (possession) |
| doctor’s appointment | Appointment with doctor (possession) |
| bus’s arrival time | Arrival time of bus (possession) |
| nurse’s duty | Duty of nurse (possession) |
| secretaries’ meeting | Meeting of secretaries (plural poss.) |
| classmates’ event | Event of classmates (plural poss.) |
| manager’s advice | Advice from manager (possession) |
| police’s report | Report of police (possession) |
| teacher’s lesson | Lesson of teacher (possession) |
| baker’s cake | Cake by baker (possession) |
| the cows’ pasture | Pasture for cows (plural poss.) |
| company’s staff | Staff of company (possession) |
| baker’s dozen | Dozen provided by baker (possession) |
| library’s books | Books of library (possession) |
| city’s population | Population of city (possession) |
| club’s president | President of club (possession) |
| artist’s painting | Painting of artist (possession) |
| author’s works | Works written by author (possession) |
| chef’s recipe | Recipe by chef (possession) |
| judge’s verdict | Verdict of judge (possession) |
| pilot’s decision | Decision of pilot (possession) |
| child’s toy | Toy of child (possession) |
| plumber’s tools | Tools of plumber (possession) |
| the building’s roof | Roof of building (possession) |
| the farmer’s field | Field of farmer (possession) |
| parents’ consent | Consent of parents (plural poss.) |
| judge’s robe | Robe of judge (possession) |
This list covers various apostrophe uses: possession, plural possession, contractions, omitted letters/numbers, and compound nouns.
Tips and Information for Apostrophe Usage English (Competitive Exams)
- Learn the rules: Apostrophes show possession or form contractions, but never for ordinary plurals (e.g., apples, not apple’s).
- Possessive forms: For singular nouns, add ’s; for plural nouns ending in “s,” add only the apostrophe (players’ coach); for irregular plurals, add ’s (children’s toys).
- Contractions: Apostrophes replace missing letters (“don’t” = do not), common in speech and writing.
- Omitted letters/numbers: Used for abbreviations (“o’er” for over; “the ‘90s” for 1990s).
- Its vs. It’s: “Its” is possessive; “it’s” means “it is” or “it has”.
- Double possession: With two owners, each gets an ’s (John’s and Tom’s bikes).
- SAT/ACT tip: Questions test contraction, possession, and plural rules. Read context to determine correct apostrophe usage.
- Visual memory: Chart common contractions and possessives for quick revision.
- Proofreading: Apostrophe mistakes are common in error spotting questions.
- Practice: Use worksheets and real exam questions for mastery.
Conclusion on Apostrophe Usage English
Understanding apostrophe usage English is vital for writing accuracy, exam success, and effective communication. By mastering the rules and reviewing diverse examples, students and exam candidates can avoid common mistakes and boost their confidence in both everyday and academic English.
Also Read: Verb Conjugation Practice: 100+ Examples with Meanings for Students & Exam Preparation
Irregular Verbs English: Your Ultimate Guide with 100+ Examples and Tips