ACT Apostrophe Practice Questions with Answers

Concept Explanation

An ACT apostrophe is a punctuation mark used primarily to indicate possession or to form contractions by replacing omitted letters. On the ACT English section, apostrophes are a frequent testing point because they require students to distinguish between singular and plural nouns, as well as between possessive pronouns and contractions. For a broader look at the types of grammar challenges you will face, check out our guide on ACT English Practice Questions with Answers.

To master the apostrophe, you must follow three core rules:

1. Singular Possession: Add 's to the end of a singular noun (e.g., the cat's tail). This applies even if the singular noun ends in -s, such as "Charles's book," though the ACT often avoids these ambiguous cases.
2. Plural Possession: For regular plural nouns ending in -s, add only an apostrophe after the -s (e.g., the dogs' leashes). For irregular plural nouns that do not end in -s, add 's (e.g., the children's toys).
3. Contractions vs. Possessive Pronouns: This is the most common trap. Contractions like it's (it is) and they're (they are) require apostrophes. However, possessive pronouns like its, their, and whose never use apostrophes.

According to the Purdue Online Writing Lab, apostrophes should never be used to make a standard noun plural. For example, "the apple's are red" is incorrect; it should simply be "apples." Understanding these distinctions is a fundamental part of comprehensive ACT Prep.

Solved Examples

Review these examples to see how apostrophe rules are applied in context.

1. Question: The scientists discovery led to a breakthrough in renewable energy.
   Solution:
   1. Identify if the noun needs to be possessive. The discovery belongs to the scientist, so yes.
   2. Determine if it is singular or plural. "The scientist" is singular.
   3. Apply the rule: Add 's.
   4. Correct Answer: scientist's discovery
2. Question: Both players jerseys were covered in mud after the game.
   Solution:
   1. The jerseys belong to the players.
   2. The word "both" indicates there are two players (plural).
   3. The plural of player is "players." To make it possessive, add an apostrophe after the -s.
   4. Correct Answer: players' jerseys
3. Question: The tree lost it's leaves during the early frost.
   Solution:
   1. Check if "it's" functions as "it is" or "it has." "The tree lost it is leaves" makes no sense.
   2. Identify the need for a possessive pronoun. The leaves belong to the tree (it).
   3. The possessive form of "it" is "its" (no apostrophe).
   4. Correct Answer: its leaves

Practice Questions

Test your knowledge with these ACT apostrophe practice questions. Pay close attention to whether a noun is plural or singular before deciding where the apostrophe goes.

1. The directors's chair was placed in the center of the set, overlooking the entire production crew.

2. While the geese's migration patterns are well-documented, local climate shifts are causing unexpected delays.

3. After years of research, the team finally published there findings in a prominent medical journal.

4. The waitress's uniform was stained because a customer had accidentally knocked over a glass of red wine.

5. Many students' grades improved significantly after the introduction of the new AI MasterPlan study schedule.

6. Who's backpack was left in the hallway after the final bell rang yesterday afternoon?

7. The neighbor's dog barked loudly every time the mail carrier approached the front porch.

8. Several city's in the region decided to implement a new tax to fund public transportation improvements.

9. Its often difficult to determine the exact age of ancient artifacts without carbon dating.

10. The mens locker room was renovated over the summer to include better ventilation and more lockers.

Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: director's. The sentence refers to one director. To show singular possession, add 's. The original choice "directors's" is never a correct English construction.
2. Answer: geese's. "Geese" is the irregular plural of "goose." Because it does not end in -s, you must add 's to make it possessive.
3. Answer: their. The findings belong to the team. "There" refers to a location. "Their" is the possessive pronoun. Note that no apostrophe is used for possessive pronouns.
4. Answer: waitress's. "Waitress" is a singular noun ending in -s. To show possession, the standard ACT rule is to add 's.
5. Answer: students'. The word "many" indicates that "students" is plural. For a regular plural noun ending in -s, just add an apostrophe at the end.
6. Answer: Whose. The sentence asks about ownership of the backpack. "Who's" is a contraction for "who is." The correct possessive pronoun is "whose."
7. Answer: neighbor's. The sentence implies a single neighbor's dog. Singular possessive requires 's.
8. Answer: cities. This is a common trap. The word "several" indicates a plural, but there is no possession involved. You simply need the plural form of "city," which is "cities." No apostrophe should be used.
9. Answer: It's. In this context, the word means "It is often difficult." Therefore, the contraction form with an apostrophe is required.
10. Answer: men's. "Men" is an irregular plural noun. To make it possessive, you must add 's.

1. Which of the following correctly shows possession for a group of three sisters?

• AThe sisters's house
• BThe sisters' house
• CThe sister's house
• DThe sisters house

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I should use its or it's?

Use "it's" only when you can replace it with "it is" or "it has." If the sentence requires a possessive meaning (belonging to it), use "its" without an apostrophe.

Do I add an apostrophe to make a name plural?

No, you never use an apostrophe to make a name or a noun plural. To refer to the Smith family, you would say "the Smiths," but to refer to the Smiths' house, you add the apostrophe after the -s.

What is the rule for singular nouns that end in -s like James?

While some style guides vary, the ACT typically follows the rule of adding 's to singular nouns ending in -s, such as "James's car." However, the test usually avoids these specific cases to prevent confusion.

Can an apostrophe be used for time and money?

Yes, expressions of time and value often use possessive apostrophes, such as "a day's work" or "five dollars' worth." These follow the standard singular and plural possessive rules.

What is the difference between their, there, and they're?

"There" refers to a place, "their" is a possessive pronoun showing ownership by a group, and "they're" is a contraction of "they are." Only the contraction uses an apostrophe.

Should I use an apostrophe for plural acronyms like CDs or 1990s?

The modern standard, supported by the Chicago Manual of Style, is to omit the apostrophe for plural acronyms and decades. You should write "CDs" and "1990s" rather than "CD's" or "1990's."