Do You Know Where to Put These Apostrophes in These Sentences?

By: Ruby Scalera
Estimated Completion Time
7 min
Do You Know Where to Put These Apostrophes in These Sentences?
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. 

Bedtime
Unsplash by Adam Grabek
Where does the apostrophe go in this sentence?
Its time for bed.
It's time for bed.
'Its time for bed.
I'ts time for bed.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Calendar
Unsplash by Adam Tinworth
How should you use an apostrophe when writing dates?
'1990s
90's
1990's
'90s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Pointing
Christian Adams/The Image Bank/Getty Images
How would you tell your mother that your brothers are across the room?
They're over there.
Their over there.
They're over their.
Their over they're.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Fruit
Unsplash by Olivia Colacicco
Which of these sentences is written correctly?
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.
Our stores apples, bananas, and pears are fresh.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Prohibit
Unsplash by muhamad taufiq
Which of these is not a contraction formed by an apostrophe in proper English?
Don't
Haven't
Cann't
Shouldn't
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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."

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Rabbits
Michael Phillips/Moment/Getty Images
Which of these possessive pronouns is written correctly?
Theirs
Her's
Your's
It's
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Cars
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How would you refer to the individual cars that Jack and Jill drive?
Jack and Jill's cars.
Jack's and Jill's cars.
Jack's and Jills cars.
Jacks and Jills cars.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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House
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How would you refer to the house that Jack and Jill share?
Jack and Jill's house.
Jack's and Jill's house.
Jack's and Jills house.
Jacks and Jills house.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Writing
Unsplash by Les Anderson
How would you tell a student to write the number 9 three times?
Write three '9s.
Write three 9s.
Write three 9's.
Write three 9s'.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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List
Unsplash by Kelly Sikkema
Which of these sentences is written correctly?
A list of could'ves, should'ves, would'ves.
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.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Contract
Unsplash by Cytonn Photography
Where does the apostrophe go in the following sentence?
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.
Cross your ts and dot your i's.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Street Sign
imamember/E+/Getty Images
Which of the following is an example of a "greengrocer's apostrophe"?
Stand 'here' for taxis.
'Stand here for taxis'
Stand here for taxi's.
Stand here for 'taxis.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Dog
Unsplash by Sebastian Coman Travel
Which of the following is a properly formed contraction?
The dog's in the backyard.
The dogs' in the backyard.
The dog's in the back'yard.
The dogs in the back'd.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Ball
Dana Neibert/The Image Bank/Getty Images
How would you answer the question, "Who has the dog's ball?"
I have it's ball.
I have its ball.
I've it's ball.
I have i'ts ball.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Confused
Emilija Manevska/Moment/Getty Images
Which of the following sentences is written correctly?
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.
Wildcat's are a problem in the mountains.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Birthday
Unsplash by Hello I'm Nik
How would you rewrite this sentence" "Jamies birthdays in a few days at her and Jills house"?
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.
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.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Dog Bone
Unsplash by Mark Zamora
How would you make possessive a plural noun that ends in "s"?
The dog's's bones
The dog's bones
The dogs' bones
The dogs bones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Baseball Opening
Unsplash by Joshua Peacock
Which of the following sentences has the apostrophe in the right place?
It's the day of its opening.
It's the day of it's opening.
Its the day of its opening.
Its the day of it's opening.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Stop
Carol Yepes/Moment/Getty Images
An apostrophe should not be used to:
Show possession
Replacing missing letters or numbers
To format plural letters (eg: three a's)
To make a word plural.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Late
Willie B. Thomas/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Select the correctly written sentence.
You're 10 minutes late.
You're 10 minute's late.
Your 10 minutes late.
Your 10 minute's late.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Book
Unsplash by Sinziana Susa
Which is the proper which to ask the following question?
Who's book is over their?
Whose book is over there?
Whose book is over their?
Who's book is over their?
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Logo
Unsplash by John Schnobrich
How would you format the acronyms in the sentence below?
His PDF's, URL's, and USB's all have the same logo.
His PDFs, URLs, and USBs all have the same logo.
His PDFS, URLs, and USBs all have the same logo.
His PDF's, URLs, and USBs all have the same logo.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Party
Isabel Pavia/Moment/Getty Images
Which of the following sentences is written correctly?
Whose party's taking place this weekend?
Who's parties taking place this weekend?
Whose parties taking place this weekend?
Who's party's taking place this weekend?
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Boston
Unsplash by Alice Donovan Rouse
How many apostrophes should be in the following sentence? Robbies trip to Boston was the chance to see great museums, eat the citys best food, and visit historical locations from all the way back to the 1600s.
No apostrophes needed
One apostrophe needed
Two apostrophes needed
Three apostrophes needed
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Christmas
Betsie Van der Meer/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Which of the following sentences is written correctly?
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.
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.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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."

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Presentation
Unsplash by Alex Litvin
Which of these sentences with commonly misplaced apostrophes is correctly written?
It's time for you're presentation and then they're next.
It's time for your presentation, and then they're next.
Its time for you're presentation and then their next.
Its time for your presentation and then there next.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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."

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Watch
Unsplash by Allef Vinicius
Where does the apostrophe go in the following sentence? "Shes sure the watch is hers."
There is no apostrophe.
She's sure the watch is her's.
She's sure the watch is hers.
Shes sure the watch is her's.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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CD
Roy Morsch/The Image Bank/Getty Images
Which of the following sentences is properly written?
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.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Dancing
wundervisuals/E+/Getty Images
How many apostrophes does this sentence need? You shouldve seen us. Weve never danced like that. Its like the 60s all over again.
Two apostrophes
Four apostrophes
Six apostrophes
Eight apostrophes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Apple
Tiina & Geir/Cultura/Getty Images
How many extra apostrophes are in this following sentence? I wen't down to the market and I'had to buy six bags of grape's, four banana's, three apple's, and Jackie's favorite juice. It's time we get a grocery store around here.
One extra apostrophe
Three extra apostrophes
Five extra apostrophes
7 extra apostrophes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"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."

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Corvette
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Where does the apostrophe go in the following sentence? "Dad loves his 67 Chevrolet Corvette."
Dad loves his '67 Chevrolet Corvette.
Dad love's his '67 Chevrolet Corvette.
Dad loves his 67' Chevrolet Corvette.
Dad' loves his 67 Chevrolet Corvette.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Sandcastle
Unsplash by Jaime Spaniol
Which sentence correctly uses each their, they're and there?
They're determined to build there sandcastle over their.
They're determined to build their sandcastle over there.
Their determined to build their sandcastle over there.
There determined to build their sandcastle over they're.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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!

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First Day
Denise Balyoz Photography/Moment/Getty Images
Which of the following sentences properly uses both forms of its?
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.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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!

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Homework
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Which of the following sentences properly uses both your/you're.
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.
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.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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!

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School Out
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Which of the following sentences is written correctly?
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!
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!
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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!

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You Got:
/35
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