Explain how to use an apostrophe to show possession for singular and plural nouns and to form contractions

Answer 1

To use an apostrophe to show possession for singular nouns, you generally add an apostrophe followed by an "s" after the word. For example:
- The dog's bone
- Mary's book

However, there are exceptions for singular nouns ending with an "s" or "ss" sound. In such cases, you typically add an apostrophe after the word without the additional "s". For example:
- Thomas' car
- Jones' house

For plural nouns that do not end with an "s," you also add an apostrophe followed by an "s" after the word. For example:
- The children's toys
- The women's jackets

For plural nouns that already end with an "s," you only need to add an apostrophe after the "s". For example:
- The dogs' beds
- The teachers' lounge

To form contractions, which are shortened forms of two words, you typically use an apostrophe to replace one or more letters. Some common contractions include:
- Can't (cannot)
- Doesn't (does not)
- I'm (I am)
- It's (it is)
- They're (they are)

It is important to note that contractions should be used in informal writing or dialogue, but not in formal writing.