Use these apostrophe sample questions to review contractions, possessive nouns, possessive pronouns, plural letters, abbreviated decades, and joint or separate possession. Answer each question before opening the explanation.
Topics Covered
- Contractions
- Its vs. it’s
- Your vs. you’re
- Who’s vs. whose
- Singular and plural possessive nouns
- Possessive pronouns
- Apostrophes with lowercase letters
- Plural years and abbreviated decades
- Joint and separate possession
Sample Questions
Hurry; it’s time to go!
- A. its
- B. its’
- C. it
- D. No error
Show Answer
The sentence is already correct.
It’s is the contraction of it is. The sentence means, “Hurry; it is time to go!”
Its is possessive, its’ is not a standard form, and it would leave the sentence without the verb is.
This is the Harris’ house.
- A. Harrises’
- B. Harris’s
- C. Harrises
- D. No error
Show Answer
The sentence refers to the house belonging to the Harris family.
First make the surname plural: Harrises. Because that plural noun ends in s, add only an apostrophe to form the possessive: Harrises’.
Harris’s would normally refer to one person named Harris.
The house was burned right down to it’s foundation.
- A. it
- B. its
- C. its’
- D. No error
Show Answer
The sentence needs the possessive form of it.
Its means belonging to it. It’s means it is or it has, which does not fit this sentence.
Its’ is not a standard form.
She confirmed that the handbag was her’s.
- A. hers
- B. hers’s
- C. his
- D. No error
Show Answer
The possessive pronoun hers does not use an apostrophe.
Possessive pronouns such as hers, his, ours, yours, and theirs already show ownership.
Yes, your right!
- A. you’re
- B. youre
- C. you
- D. No error
Show Answer
The sentence means you are right, so the contraction you’re is correct.
Your is possessive, as in your book. Youre is not a standard word, and you alone would omit the verb.
Who’s hat is this?
- A. Whos’
- B. Whose
- C. Who’se
- D. No error
Show Answer
The sentence asks who owns the hat, so it needs the possessive word whose.
Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has. It does not show possession.
Whos’ and who’se are not standard forms.
She dots her i’s with little hearts.
- A. is
- B. Is
- C. I’s
- D. No error
Show Answer
The sentence is already correct.
An apostrophe is commonly used to form the plural of a lowercase letter when it prevents confusion.
Without the apostrophe, is could be mistaken for the verb is instead of the plural of the letter i.
I have not seen those people since the 1990’s.
- A. 19’90’s
- B. 19’90s
- C. 1990s
- D. No error
Show Answer
Plural years do not normally use an apostrophe.
The correct form is 1990s, not 1990’s.
An apostrophe can mark omitted digits in an abbreviated decade, as in ’90s, but no apostrophe belongs before the plural s.
The ’70s was a decade with some great music.
- A. 70s
- B. 70’s
- C. ’70’s
- D. No error
Show Answer
The sentence is already correct.
The apostrophe before 70s marks the omitted digits in the shortened form of 1970s.
The plural s does not need an apostrophe, so 70’s and ’70’s are incorrect.
We visited Dennis’ and Pam’s new house. It is closer to Dennis and Pam’s jobs.
- A. Dennis and Pam’s; Dennis’s and Pam’s
- B. Dennis’s and Pam’s; Dennis’s and Pam’s
- C. Dennis’s and Pam; Dennis’s and Pam’s
- D. No error
Show Answer
When two people share ownership of one thing, only the second name takes the possessive ending. Because Dennis and Pam share one house, write Dennis and Pam’s new house.
When two people possess separate things, each name takes the possessive form. Because Dennis and Pam have separate jobs, write Dennis’s and Pam’s jobs.
How to Use These Questions
Answer each question before opening the explanation. When reviewing a missed item, determine whether the apostrophe marks omitted letters, shows possession, or is unnecessary.
Remember that possessive pronouns such as hers, ours, yours, and theirs do not use apostrophes. Plural years also normally omit apostrophes.