Image: pinstock/E+/Getty Images
About This Quiz
"It's" versus "its" is one of the most common challenges that even the most advanced English speakers face, and there are many other challenges just like it. Whether you're deciding on contractions versus possessives or trying to write a date correctly, it's vital to know where the apostrophe goes so that you can get your meaning across to your readers. They show up in just about every part of speech and often in many different ways that can make it challenging to know what is their proper use.
From high school papers to full-length books, from journalist articles to important cover letters that might help you get a job, apostrophes serve many purposes, and it's crucial to know how to use them correctly. Even if you're communicating with friends or family, proper use of apostrophes can make written conversations clearer, help you to come across as more professional, and inspire your readers to trust you. This means better grades, job offers, and the respect you deserve.
Do you think you have what it takes to beat this English grammar quiz? Put your apostrophe knowledge to the test, and see just how much you know about the English language. And don't forget to challenge your friends when you're done.Â
Its time for bed.
It's time for bed.
In the it's vs. its question, it's stands for 'it is', as in 'It is time for bed'. While it's tempting to add an apostrophe to make the word possessive, as with proper nouns, that changes the meaning of the sentence.
'Its time for bed.
I'ts time for bed.
Advertisement
'1990s
90's
1990's
'90s
An apostrophe stands in for a number or letter. In this case, the apostrophe is a replacement for 19 in 1990s. A common pitfall here is to place the apostrophe between the "0" and the "s," but it doesn't belong there.
Advertisement
They're over there.
The apostrophe in "they're" stands in for the letter 'a' so it becomes "they are." Their is possessive, and in this case, "there" refers to the location. This is a commonly confused word in English.
Their over there.
They're over their.
Their over they're.
Advertisement
Our stores apple's, banana's, and pear's are fresh.
Our store's apple's, banana's, and pear's are fresh.
Our store's apples, bananas, and pears are fresh.
A common apostrophe mistake is to use it for pluralizing nouns, as in the first two options. Apostrophes aren't used to pluralize, but they are used to show possession, as in "our store's" because it refers to the store's apples, bananas, and pears.
Our stores apples, bananas, and pears are fresh.
Advertisement
Don't
Haven't
Cann't
Contractions are combinations of two other words (or more). Sometimes they require apostrophes — such as turning "do not" into "don't" — and sometimes they don't. In this case, "can not" would be "can't," not "cann't."
Shouldn't
Advertisement
Theirs
Pronouns don't have apostrophes unless they're contractions. For example, "it's" as a stand-in for "it is." Possessive pronouns do not have apostrophes, only names do, though it is a common mistake.
Her's
Your's
It's
Advertisement
Jack and Jill's cars.
Jack's and Jill's cars.
When two (or more) individual subjects own their individual possessions, then each of them will have an apostrophe. This is specific to instances where the subjects have their own possessions. The rules of possession change when things are shared.
Jack's and Jills cars.
Jacks and Jills cars.
Advertisement
Jack and Jill's house.
If the two individuals own something separately, there should be an apostrophe after each name. If they share the object of the sentence, however (the house, in the example above), the apostrophe will only be after the last name, no matter how many are listed.
Jack's and Jill's house.
Jack's and Jills house.
Jacks and Jills house.
Advertisement
Write three '9s.
Write three 9s.
Apostrophes either stand in for words or numbers or they make proper now possessive. Since nothing is missing from "9s" and it is not a proper noun, there is no reason for an apostrophe in the sentence.
Write three 9's.
Write three 9s'.
Advertisement
A list of could'ves, should'ves, would'ves.
The apostrophes in the original contractions — could have -> could've, should have -> should've, would have -> would've — remain, but since they are plural, they simply need the 's' added at the end. The last answer appears correct but would turn the sentence into a list of could have is, should have is, and would have is, which doesn't make grammatical sense.
A list of couldves, shoulves, wouldves.
A list of couldve's, shouldve's, wouldve's.
A list of could've's should've's, would've's.
Advertisement
Cross you're ts and dot your is.
Cross your t's and dot your is.
Cross your t's and dot your i's.
When indicating the plurality of a letter, whether or not it is italicized, an apostrophe is used for readability and formatting. In this case, the apostrophe does not stand in for a letter or number and does not indicate proper noun possession.
Cross your ts and dot your i's.
Advertisement
Stand 'here' for taxis.
'Stand here for taxis'
Stand here for taxi's.
The greengrocer's apostrophe is named such because it often appears in handwritten signs, like the kind you'd find in a local shop. In this case, because the 's' in taxis is merely there to indicate plurality, the apostrophe is not necessary.
Stand here for 'taxis.
Advertisement
The dog's in the backyard.
In this example, the apostrophe stands in for the letter i. When unfolded, the sentence is "the dog is in the backyard." The word backyard does not require an apostrophe, and when an apostrophe is added after a pluralized word, it refers to the plural subject's possession.
The dogs' in the backyard.
The dog's in the back'yard.
The dogs in the back'd.
Advertisement
I have it's ball.
I have its ball.
When referring to the subject's possession, there is no apostrophe in the world "its." A good rule of thumb would be that if you can replace 'it' with "he" or "she," then you don't need an apostrophe.
I've it's ball.
I have i'ts ball.
Advertisement
Dad's love to bike to work.
Get grandma a gift she'll love; purchase our flower's today!
Don't forget your running shoes.
Oftentimes, random apostrophes will appear where the author simply means to make a possessive noun. "Dad's" should be "dads," unless it is referring to "dad is" or dad's possession. "Flower's" should be "flowers" and "wildcat's" should be "wildcats," as they refer to in these sentences.
Wildcat's are a problem in the mountains.
Advertisement
Jamie's birthday's in a few days at her's and Jill's house.
Jamie's birthday's in a few days at her and Jill's house.
There are a lot of pitfalls in this question. The first apostrophe is for Jamie's possession; she is possessing her birthday. The second is a stand-in for the letter "I," eg: "birthday is." Remember, when two objects share the subject, the possession only goes with the last object, in this case, Jill. Also, pronouns do not get apostrophes.
Jamie's birthdays in a few days at her and Jill's house.
Jamies birthday's in a few days at her's and Jill's house.
Advertisement
The dog's's bones
The dog's bones
The dogs' bones
There are a few schools of thought when it comes to possessive plural nouns, but if you're following classic English rules, you want to place the apostrophe after the "s" to indicate that the noun is both plural and possessive.
The dogs bones
Advertisement
It's the day of its opening.
The first "it's" in the sentence stands for "it is," and the apostrophe stands in for the letter "i" where the second "its" is possessive and needs no apostrophe. This is one of the most common mistakes in English.
It's the day of it's opening.
Its the day of its opening.
Its the day of it's opening.
Advertisement
Show possession
Replacing missing letters or numbers
To format plural letters (eg: three a's)
To make a word plural.
Apostrophes are often mistakenly used to pluralize nouns. They do, however, replace missing letters, show possession, and even help writers to format letters. Knowing how to properly use them can improve communication and enhance storytelling.
Advertisement
You're 10 minutes late.
The "you're" in this sentence stands for "you are." If it were possessive, it would be "your." Minutes does not have an apostrophe because it is just plural, not plural and possessive.
You're 10 minute's late.
Your 10 minutes late.
Your 10 minute's late.
Advertisement
Who's book is over their?
Whose book is over there?
Whose and who's are commonly confused, but "who's" breaks apart into "who is?" The possessive of who is "whose." Their is in reference to "them," not a location. Many of these rules of grammar break other rules of grammar.
Whose book is over their?
Who's book is over their?
Advertisement
His PDF's, URL's, and USB's all have the same logo.
His PDFs, URLs, and USBs all have the same logo.
Acronyms and apostrophes can get a little sticky, but according to the official rules of grammar, you don't use apostrophes in acronyms that don't have periods. It's a good idea to check when you are unsure, however.
His PDFS, URLs, and USBs all have the same logo.
His PDF's, URLs, and USBs all have the same logo.
Advertisement
Whose party's taking place this weekend?
This sentence may be a little unwieldy, but it's technically correct. "Whose" is possessive, as in "Who does the party belong to?" and party's unfolded to "party is" so you have "whose party is." There are cleaner ways to write this sentence, however.
Who's parties taking place this weekend?
Whose parties taking place this weekend?
Who's party's taking place this weekend?
Advertisement
No apostrophes needed
One apostrophe needed
Two apostrophes needed
This sentences needs two apostrophes. Robbies should be Robbie's and citys should be city's. A common mistake would be to add an apostrophe to 1600s, but remember that dates only use apostrophes when they are 1) standing in for the first two digits of the year or 2) referring to that date's possession.
Three apostrophes needed
Advertisement
I've found the perfect Christmas gifts for mom, grandma, and my brother's.
I've found the perfect Christmas gifts for mom, grandma, and my brothers.
It's tempting to put an apostrophe in the plural word "brothers," but it's not necessary. The only word in this sentence that needs an apostrophe is "I've," which stands for "I have."
Ive found the perfect Christmas gifts for mom, grandma, and my brothers.
Ive found the perfect Christmas gifts for mom, grandma, and my brother's.
Advertisement
It's time for you're presentation and then they're next.
It's time for your presentation, and then they're next.
It's/Its, Your/You're, and They're/Their/There are the words that appear most commonly with misplaced apostrophes — and this was a triple header. In the correct example. "It's" stands for "it is," "your" is possessive, and "they're" stands for "they are."
Its time for you're presentation and then their next.
Its time for your presentation and then there next.
Advertisement
There is no apostrophe.
She's sure the watch is her's.
She's sure the watch is hers.
When a proper noun is possessive, you will need an apostrophe. For instance, if the sentence was, "She's sure the watch is Sally's," there would be an apostrophe. However, pronouns like hers or his do not require them in order to be possessive.
Shes sure the watch is her's.
Advertisement
In the 1990's, CDs rose in popularity among teen's.
In the 1990s, CDs rose in popularity among teen's.
In the 1990s, CD's rose in popularity among teens.
In the 1990s, CDs rose in popularity among teens.
You didn't fall for it! Many of the common apostrophe pitfalls and mistakes show up in this sentence, but 1990s, CDs, and teens are all written properly in this sentence without them.
Advertisement
Two apostrophes
Four apostrophes
This sentence needs four apostrophes: Should've, we've, it's, '60s. The first three are contractions, where the apostrophe stands in for have, have, and is, and in the last one, the apostrophe stands in for the 19 in 1960s.
Six apostrophes
Eight apostrophes
Advertisement
One extra apostrophe
Three extra apostrophes
Five extra apostrophes
"Wen't" should be "went," "I'had" should be "I had," and "grape's, banana's, and apple's," should be "grapes, bananas, and apples." Jackie's is possessive, so that is correct, and "it's" stands for "it is."
7 extra apostrophes
Advertisement
Dad loves his '67 Chevrolet Corvette.
In this example, the apostrophe stands in for the 19 in 1967. The only other time that apostrophes are used in dates is when the date is possessive. For example, 1967's Best Car.
Dad love's his '67 Chevrolet Corvette.
Dad loves his 67' Chevrolet Corvette.
Dad' loves his 67 Chevrolet Corvette.
Advertisement
They're determined to build there sandcastle over their.
They're determined to build their sandcastle over there.
In order: They're --> they are, their --> possessive, there --> location. These are some of the most commonly mistaken words in the English language, and it's important to know how to use them right. Practice helps!
Their determined to build their sandcastle over there.
There determined to build their sandcastle over they're.
Advertisement
It's time for the school's opening. It's future is bright.
Its time for the school's opening. Its future is bright.
Its time for the school's opening. It's future is bright.
It's time for the school's opening. Its future is bright.
The first "it's" stands for "it is" and the second "its" is possessive, so the last answer is correct. This mistake shows up often, and it's easy to see why. Just keep practicing to get it right!
Advertisement
Now that you're home from school, it's time to do your homework, eat you're dinner, and brush your teeth, and then you can have you're TV time.
Now that your home from school, it's time to do you're homework, eat you're dinner, and brush you're teeth, and then you can have you're time.
Now that you're home from school, it's time to do your homework, eat your dinner and brush your teeth, and then you can have your TV time.
This one was tricky on the surface! In fact, all of the your/you're options were possessive except for the very first, which stood for "you are," as in "you are" home from school. They're easy to mix up!
Now that you're home from school, it's time to do your homework, eat your dinner, and brush your teeth, and then you can have you're TV time.
Advertisement
Congrats! You've come to the end of a challenging quiz, and now its time to celebrate. Don't forget to invite your friends!
Congrats! You've come to the end of a challenging quiz, and now it's time to celebrate. Don't forget to invite your friends!
There are lots of things to keep in mind in this one! In order, "you've" for "you have," "it's" for "it is," "don't" for "do not," and "your" because it's possessive. Remember, the best way to learn grammar is to practice! Read and write often, and have fun!
Congrats! You've come to the end of a challenging quiz, and its time to celebrate. Don't forget to invite your friends.
Congrats! You've come to the end of a challenging quiz, and now it's time to celebrate! Don't forget to invite you're friends!
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
.jpg){kind=link}