1. Contractions: When two words are combined into one, an apostrophe replaces the missing letters.
* Examples:
* I'm (I am)
* It's (It is)
* You're (You are)
* They're (They are)
* Can't (Cannot)
* Don't (Do not)
2. Possessive Nouns: To show ownership or possession, an apostrophe and an "s" are added to singular nouns and just an apostrophe to plural nouns that already end in "s".
* Examples:
* The cat's tail (The tail of the cat)
* The children's toys (The toys of the children)
* The dogs' food (The food of the dogs)
Important Notes:
* Plural Nouns: If a plural noun does not end in "s", you add an apostrophe and an "s" to make it possessive.
* Example: The women's hats (The hats of the women)
* Proper Nouns: The same rules apply to proper nouns.
* Example: James's book (The book belonging to James)
* Words Ending in 's': If a singular noun ends in "s," it is often considered acceptable to add just an apostrophe after the "s" for possessive purposes. However, adding an apostrophe and an "s" is always grammatically correct.
* Example: The boss's desk or The boss's desk
Other uses of apostrophes:
* Numbers: Apostrophes are sometimes used in numbers to indicate the omission of digits.
* Example: The class of '98 (The class of 1998)
* Quoting within quotes: If you need to include a quotation within a quotation, you use single quotation marks around the inner quotation and double quotation marks around the outer quotation.
It's important to note that while the apostrophe has its uses, it should not be used to make a word plural. Adding an apostrophe to a word that is already plural is incorrect.