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Apostrophes – Quiz 1
Apostrophes Quiz 1 (30 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates the proper use of apostrophes in English grammar, focusing on possessives, contractions, and time expressions. It tests understanding of singular and plural possession, joint and separate possessions, and conditional tense usage.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
Choose the correct position for the apostrophe
A) This is Na Hye's notebook.
B) This is Na Hyes' notebook.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct usage of the apostrophe in this context is to indicate possession by a singular noun, which in English requires adding an apostrophe followed by "s". The name "Na Hye" is treated as a singular proper noun. Therefore, the correct form is "Na Hye's".
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses the appropriate apostrophe to show possession.
Option B:
Incorrect. The apostrophe should be followed by an 's' even for a name ending in 'y' unless the name ends in 'ies', which is not the case here.
Option C:
Incorrect. Both A and B are incorrect based on proper grammar rules.
Option D:
Incorrect. Option A is correct, so this option is also incorrect.
2.
The boys wrestling team have the smelliest locker room.
A) Boys wrestling team.
B) Boy's wrestling team.
C) Boys' wrestling team.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is A) Boys wrestling team. In this case, the boys are singular and possessive, indicating that the locker room belongs to the boys as a group. Therefore, no apostrophe is needed after "boys."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. No apostrophe is required because the boys are treated as a single entity owning the locker room.
Option B:
Incorrect. The possessive form should be singular, not plural.
Option C:
Incorrect. The apostrophe in "Boys'" would imply that each boy has his own locker room, which is not the intended meaning.
Option D:
Incorrect. At least one option is correct.
3.
Ellies knowledge of Mindcraft is incredible.
A) Ellie's.
B) Ellie'.
C) Ellies'.
D) Elli'es.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Ellie's is the correct answer because it properly shows possession of knowledge by Ellie. The apostrophe 's indicates that the knowledge belongs to Ellie.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Proper use of apostrophe for singular possessive.
Option B:
Incorrect. Missing the apostrophe, which is needed for singular possession.
Option C:
Incorrect. Unnecessary apostrophe and incorrect spelling of name.
Option D:
Incorrect. Improper use of apostrophe and spelling error.
4.
Choose either the possessive or plural form of each noun to complete each sentence correctly. My ..... oatmeal cookies are the best in the world.
A) Dad's.
B) Dad.
C) Dads.
D) Dads'.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
A) Dad's.
This sentence uses a possessive form to indicate that the oatmeal cookies belong to the speaker’s father. The apostrophe in "Dad's" shows possession, meaning these are the best cookies among those made by or belonging to the speaker's dad.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses possessive form indicating ownership.
Option B:
Incorrect. No apostrophe needed for singular noun without possession.
Option C:
Incorrect. Plural noun does not require an apostrophe in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect. Plural possessive form is not appropriate here.
5.
Which phrase correctly uses an apostrophe for a time expression?
A) The report is due in a days time.
B) The report is due in day time.
C) The report is due in a day's time.
D) The report is due in a days' time.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct usage of an apostrophe in a time expression is to indicate possession or a singular noun referring to a period of time acting as a possessive. In this case, "day's" shows that the report is due within the timeframe belonging to one day.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; no apostrophe needed here.
Option B:
Incorrect; no apostrophe needed and "day time" sounds awkward.
Option C:
Correct; uses an apostrophe to show possession, indicating the report is due within a single day's timeframe.
Option D:
Incorrect; double apostrophe is unnecessary and incorrect.
6.
Which sentence contains the correct homophone?
A) My peace of pizza was cold.
B) Wear will you be at 5pm?.
C) I no that I will definitely recommend the book I'm reading.
D) I can't believe I accidentally threw that important form out.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct homophone is "thrown" in Option D, which uses the past tense of "throw." The apostrophe in this context is not necessary as there are no possessives or contractions involved.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. "Peace" and "pizza" do not contain homophones.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Will" is correctly used without an apostrophe.
Option C:
Incorrect. "No" does not contain a homophone, but "that" could be confused with "than," though this is not the case here.
Option D:
Correct. "Threw" is the correct past tense of "throw."
7.
Fill in the blank:We will complete the task within ..... time.
A) A fortnight.
B) A fortnight's.
C) A fortnights'.
D) A fortnights.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) A fortnight's.
This option correctly uses an apostrophe to indicate possession, meaning the task will be completed within a period of time that belongs to or is associated with "a fortnight." The other options are incorrect because they either lack an apostrophe (C and D), which would make them grammatically wrong, or incorrectly use 's without a preceding article (A).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Missing the apostrophe, making it grammatically incorrect.
Option B:
Correct usage of an apostrophe to indicate possession.
Option C:
Incorrect use of 's without a preceding article, making it grammatically wrong.
Option D:
Incorrect use of 's without a preceding article, making it grammatically wrong.
8.
True or False:The sentence 'It's been a year's time since we last spoke.' uses the apostrophe to show time.
A) True.
B) False.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The apostrophe in the sentence 'It's been a year's time since we last spoke.' is used to show possession, not time. The contraction "it's" means "it is," and "year's" indicates that the year belongs to or is associated with something.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
False. The apostrophe in 'year's' shows possession, not time.
Option B:
True. This is the correct interpretation of the sentence structure and usage of apostrophes.
Option C:
All the above. Not applicable as only one option can be true.
Option D:
None of the above. Incorrect since Option B is true.
9.
Clearly, the world you live in today wouldn't be the same without the contributions of many dedicated scientists and there work. What change, if any, should be made to the sentence?
A) Insert a comma after scientists.
B) Change contributions to contribution's.
C) Change there to their.
D) Change without the to without no.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "Clearly, the world you live in today wouldn't be the same without the contributions of many dedicated scientists and there work." contains a possessive error. The word "there" is used incorrectly; it should be replaced with "their," which is the possessive form of "they." This change corrects the grammatical issue.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Inserting a comma after scientists does not address the apostrophe error.
Option B:
Changing contributions to contribution's would create an unnecessary possessive form, which is incorrect in this context.
Option C:
Change there to their. This corrects the sentence by making "their" a proper possessive pronoun.
Option D:
Changing without the to without no does not address the apostrophe error and would change the meaning of the sentence.
10.
Identify the sentence with the correct plural possessive form.
A) The childrens's playground is new.
B) The children's playground is new.
C) The childrens' playground is new.
D) The childrens playground is new.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) The children's playground is new.
This sentence uses the apostrophe correctly to indicate possession by multiple children. In English, when a plural noun ends in 's', only one additional apostrophe is needed.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "childrens'" should be just "children's" as it’s already plural.
Option B:
Correct; uses proper singular possessive form for a plural noun ending in 's'.
Option C:
Incorrect; "childrens'" is misspelled and unnecessary apostrophe added.
Option D:
Incorrect; no apostrophe used, making it unclear who the playground belongs to.
11.
At the end of the day, the team with the most players are going to advance.
A) Team with the most players will have been advancing.
B) Team with the most players is going to advance.
C) NO CHANGE.
D) Team with the most players is having to advance.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the present continuous tense ("is going to") which indicates a future event that is certain based on current conditions (the team with the most players). This aligns with the statement about the end of the day and the certainty implied by "going to advance."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Uses past perfect tense, which does not fit the future context.
Option B:
Correct. Uses present continuous tense indicating a future event based on current conditions.
Option C:
Incorrect. No change from original statement, which is grammatically incorrect in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect. Uses present continuous progressive tense, which implies an ongoing action rather than a future one.
12.
My uncle's wife is my .....
A) Sister.
B) Brother.
C) Ant.
D) Aunt.
Show Answer
Explanations:
My uncle's wife is your aunt because an uncle is a male sibling of one’s parent, and his wife would be the female spouse of that sibling, making her your aunt.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Sister - Incorrect. Your uncle's wife is not related to you as siblings.
Option B:
Brother - Incorrect. Your uncle's wife is not a brother of yours.
Option C:
Ant - Incorrect. This term refers to an insect, unrelated to family terms.
Option D:
Aunt - Correct. An aunt is the sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
13.
When indicating possession, where should the apostrophe be placed in the following sentence? "We use Carols camera to take lots of photos on vacation."
A) After the "s".
B) Before the "s".
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The apostrophe is used to indicate possession, and when the noun already ends in an "s" sound (represented by an "s"), we typically add only the apostrophe after the "s". This rule applies to singular nouns like "Carol's camera".
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Adding the apostrophe before the "s" would be redundant and incorrect.
Option B:
Correct. The apostrophe is placed after the "s" to indicate possession without adding an extra "s".
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests using two apostrophes, which is unnecessary and wrong for this case.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
14.
..... the party's candidate for vice president this year?
A) Who's.
B) Whose'.
C) Whose.
D) Whos.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
A) Who's.
The phrase "Who's" is a contraction of "who is," which is appropriate in this context as it refers to the identity of the party's candidate for vice president. Contractions are used when speaking about people or things, and "who's" fits grammatically here.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Who's" is a contraction meaning "who is."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Whose'" is possessive and does not fit the context of forming a contraction.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Whose" is possessive and does not form a contraction with "is."
Option D:
Incorrect. "Whos" is not a valid word or contraction in English.
15.
Both of the archaeologist's tools were destroyed when the volcano erupted.
A) Archaeologists'.
B) Archaeologists.
C) Correct as is.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The apostrophe in "Archaeologists'" indicates possession, showing that the tools belong to the archaeologists. Since both of the archaeologist's tools were destroyed, it is correct to use the possessive form "Archaeologists'". Therefore, Option A) Archaeologists' is correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct as the apostrophe indicates possession.
Option B:
Incorrect as it omits the necessary apostrophe for possession.
Option C:
Incorrect as "Correct as is" does not address the need for an apostrophe in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect as there is a correct answer among the options provided.
16.
When will the ..... start to get warmer outside?
A) Day's.
B) Days's.
C) Days.
D) Dayz.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
C) Days.
The word "Days" does not require an apostrophe because it is not indicating possession; rather, it refers to multiple days in general. An apostrophe would be needed if the sentence implied ownership or a specific set of days (e.g., "Day's" for singular possession or "Days'" for plural possession).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "Day's" implies possession, which is not applicable here.
Option B:
Incorrect; "Days's" is a non-standard form and incorrect in English grammar.
Option C:
Correct; no apostrophe needed as it refers to multiple days generically.
Option D:
Incorrect; "Dayz" is not a standard English word or form.
17.
Choose the correct use of the apostrophe in the sentence: "The books cover was torn."
A) The book-s cover was torn.
B) The books' cover was torn.
C) The books cover was torn.
D) The book's cover was torn.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct use of the apostrophe in this sentence is to indicate possession, which is why "book's" is used instead of "books" (Option D). The singular noun "book" requires an apostrophe to show that the cover belongs to or is associated with a single book. In Options A and B, there are no apostrophes where needed for possession. Option C incorrectly omits both the apostrophe and the plural 's', making it grammatically incorrect.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as "book-s" is not a proper form in English.
Option B:
Incorrect as "books'" implies multiple books, which contradicts the singular subject.
Option C:
Incorrect as it omits both necessary elements: apostrophe and plural 's'.
Option D:
Correct use of apostrophe to indicate possession by a single book.
18.
An example of Rule #7:Its and it's are special cases. Its = something belongs to it It's = contraction for it is or it has ..... is .....
A) We learned our ABCs. (not ABC's)Jim sells R.V.s (not R.V.'s).
B) The hat's father Jenny's bike The child's mother.
C) You're (you are) Don't (do not).
D) The dog wagged its tail.It's going to be warm today!It's been a long time.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it accurately uses the apostrophes to distinguish between contractions and possessives, aligning with Rule #7: "Its" shows possession (The dog wagged its tail), while "It's" is a contraction for "it is" or "it has" (It's going to be warm today! It's been a long time).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. No apostrophes needed in these examples.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Hat's father" and "child's mother" should not have apostrophes as they are not showing possession of a specific item or person.
Option C:
Incorrect. No apostrophe is needed in "You're" (you are) and "Don't" (do not).
Option D:
Correct. Demonstrates proper use of "its" for possession and "it's" as a contraction.
19.
Is the apostrophe used correctly?wel'l
A) Yes.
B) No.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The apostrophe is used incorrectly in "wel'l". The correct form should be "well's" if it were to indicate possession, or simply "will" without an apostrophe for contractions like "will" and "would".
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. The apostrophe is not used correctly.
Option B:
Correct. The apostrophe usage is incorrect.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests all are correct, which they are not.
Option D:
Incorrect. None of the options are entirely correct.
20.
My ..... desk is tidy.
A) Teachers.
B) Teacher's.
C) Teacher.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The desk belongs to a single teacher, so the possessive form should be used with an apostrophe followed by "s". Therefore, "Teacher's" is correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. "Teachers" does not indicate possession.
Option B:
Correct. "Teacher's" shows the desk belongs to a single teacher.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Teacher" alone does not show possession.
Option D:
Incorrect. At least one option is correct.
21.
Choose the correct sentence that uses an apostrophe for time:A) We have a two weeks vacation. B) She will leave in a day's time. C) They stayed a nights long. D) It's been a days work.
A) She will leave in a day's time.
B) They stayed a nights long.
C) We have a two weeks vacation.
D) It's been a days work.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct sentence is
A) She will leave in a day's time.
This sentence uses the apostrophe correctly to indicate possession, showing that the time belongs to the day (a day's time).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses apostrophe for possession.
Option B:
Incorrect. Should be "nights' long" or "a night long."
Option C:
Incorrect. Should be "two weeks' vacation" or "a nights' long."
Option D:
Incorrect. Should be "It's been a day's work."
22.
My sister is named Megan.Megan and I have the same parents.Which sentence is correct?
A) Chris's and Megan's parents loved and supported their children.
B) Chris and Megan's parents loved and supported their children.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Chris and Megan's parents loved and supported their children.
This sentence uses the apostrophe correctly to indicate possession by both individuals, Chris and Megan, sharing the same parents.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect use of apostrophes; it should be "Chris's and Megan's" or "Megan's and Chris's."
Option B:
Correct usage of apostrophes for joint possession.
Option C:
Incorrect as both A and B are correct, but B is the only option listed here.
Option D:
Incorrect; there is a correct answer among the options provided.
23.
Use a before words that begin with a consonant sound.
A) True.
B) False.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The claimed correct answer is "A) True." because the instruction asks to use a word that begins with a consonant sound, which can be demonstrated by the word "before" in the question itself.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. The question uses "before," starting with a consonant sound.
Option B:
Incorrect. "True" does not begin with a consonant sound; it starts with a vowel.
Option C:
Incorrect. Not all options are correct since only one begins with a consonant sound.
Option D:
Incorrect. None of the options meet the requirement to start with a consonant sound.
24.
The 4th graders are the oldest class on the LS campus.
A) No apostrophe needed.
B) 4th grader's.
C) 4th graders'.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The phrase "4th graders" is a plural noun, and it does not require an apostrophe because the apostrophe is used to indicate possession or contractions, neither of which apply here. The 4th graders are being referred to as a group, so no apostrophe is needed.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
No apostrophe needed. (Correct)
Option B:
4th grader's. (Incorrect - indicates singular possession which is not applicable here)
Option C:
4th graders'. (Incorrect - plural possessive form, but unnecessary in this context)
Option D:
None of the above. (Incorrect - Option A is correct)
25.
An example of Rule #5:Do use after the plurals to show possession when something belongs to more than one person or thing. Make the noun plural first, then add the apostrophe. is .....
A) The girls' room The children's father The dogs' toy.
B) The dog wagged its tail. It's going to be warm today! It's been a long time.
C) Mr. Jones files Texas's weather.
D) I grew up in the 1900s. (not 1900's).
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A correctly applies Rule #5 by showing possession for more than one person or thing using the plural form followed by an apostrophe: "The girls' room," "The children's father," and "The dogs' toy." These examples follow the rule accurately.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Applies Rule #5 properly.
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses apostrophes incorrectly for singular nouns: "It's" should be "its," and there are no plural possessives shown.
Option C:
Incorrect. Misuses the apostrophe; "Texas's weather" should be "Texas' weather" or "the weather in Texas."
Option D:
Correct, but not relevant to Rule #5 as it deals with decades and does not involve plural possessives.
26.
Select the correct optoon
A) Parass's.
B) Paras'.
C) Paras's.
D) Parsass.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Paras'.
An apostrophe is used to indicate possession in a singular noun that ends with an 's'. When the singular noun already ends with an 's', we add only the apostrophe after it, without another 's'.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. It adds an extra 's' which is unnecessary.
Option B:
Correct. Proper use of apostrophe for singular possession.
Option C:
Incorrect. Adds an extra 's', making it redundant and incorrect.
Option D:
Incorrect. Does not follow the rule for singular possessive nouns ending in 's'.
27.
My ..... cars were parked on the street.
A) Brother's.
B) Brothers'.
C) Brothers.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Brothers'.
This apostrophe indicates possession, showing that the cars belong to multiple brothers as a group. The plural possessive form requires an apostrophe after the 's'.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
No apostrophe for plural possessives; incorrect.
Option B:
Correct use of apostrophe in plural possessive; correct.
Option C:
No apostrophe needed for brothers as a group; incorrect.
Option D:
Not applicable since one correct option exists; incorrect.
28.
I can't read the students/student's handwriting.
A) Students.
B) Student's.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The apostrophe in "student's" indicates possession, meaning the handwriting belongs to a single student. Therefore, "Student's" is correct when referring to one student’s handwriting.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it does not use an apostrophe for singular possession.
Option B:
Correct because it uses the apostrophe to show that the handwriting belongs to a single student.
Option C:
Incorrect as "Students" is plural and would require an apostrophe-s only if referring to collective ownership, which is not the case here.
Option D:
Incorrect as there is a correct answer among the options provided.
29.
Select the correct usage of apostrophe in a time expression.
A) The event is a year's away.
B) The event is a years away.
C) The event is a year away.
D) The event is a years' away.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct usage of apostrophes in the given options is demonstrated by Option C: "The event is a year away." This sentence does not require an apostrophe because it refers to a period of time without indicating possession or contraction. An apostrophe would be needed if the phrase indicated ownership, such as "a year's worth," but this is not the case here.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; no apostrophe is necessary for non-possessive time expressions.
Option B:
Incorrect; same reason as Option A.
Option C:
Correct; proper usage of a year away without an apostrophe.
Option D:
Incorrect; the apostrophe is unnecessary here, making this option incorrect for the same reason as Options A and B.
30.
Choose the short form of it is
A) Its.
B) Can't.
C) She's.
D) It's.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) It's.
This short form combines "it" and "is," which are often contracted in informal writing. The apostrophe indicates the omission of a letter, in this case, the 'i' from "is."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Its is used to show possession, e.g., "Its tail." It does not represent a contraction of "it is."
Option B:
Can't is the contraction for "can not," which uses 'c' and 'a' instead of 'i' and 's.'
Option C:
She's is used to show possession or contractions, e.g., "She's a friend." It does not represent "it is."
Option D:
Correct. It's combines "it" and "is," using an apostrophe for the contraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rule for using apostrophes in singular possessives?
Apostrophes are used to indicate possession in singular nouns by adding an apostrophe followed by an "s" at the end of the word, unless the noun ends in "s," in which case only an apostrophe is added after the final "s."
Can apostrophes be used in time expressions?
Yes, apostrophes can be used in time expressions to indicate possession or to form contractions. For example, "ten minutes' break" shows possession, while "don't wait" is a contraction.
How do apostrophes work with plural possessives?
For plural nouns ending in 's,' an apostrophe is added after the final 's' to indicate possession. For non-'s' plurals, add an apostrophe and an 's' at the end of the word.
What about apostrophes in contractions?
Apostrophes are used to form contractions, which join two words into one by replacing the omitted letter with an apostrophe. For example, "I am" becomes "I'm."
Are there any exceptions to apostrophe usage?Yes, there are some exceptions, such as with possessive pronouns like "its," where no apostrophe is used. Additionally, in certain time expressions, apostrophes can be used for clarity or style but are not strictly necessary.
Yes, there are some exceptions, such as with possessive pronouns like "its," where no apostrophe is used. Additionally, in certain time expressions, apostrophes can be used for clarity or style but are not strictly necessary.