ACT WTF

ENGLISH GUIDE
APOSTROPHES
DIRECTIONS: This is an English guide. The guide covers a grammar topic tested on the ACT. Review the intro-
duction, objectives, summary, key terms, and rules before working the example problems. Be sure you understand
the examples before testing yourself with the timed practice problems. Use a 15-minute timer on the practice
problems.

INTRODUCTION:
Apostrophes are punctuation marks used to indicate possession or the omission of letters or numbers. Under-
standing how to correctly use apostrophes is essential for mastering English grammar, which is crucial for the ACT
English section. This guide will help you understand the rules for using apostrophes in different contexts.

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this guide, students will be able to:
• Identify when to use apostrophes to show possession.
• Distinguish between singular and plural possession.
• Recognize and correct errors involving apostrophes in contractions and possessives.
• Answer ACT questions related to apostrophes with confidence.
SUMMARY:
Apostrophes serve two primary functions in English grammar: indicating possession and forming contractions. It is
important to understand these functions to avoid common mistakes. This guide covers the rules for using apostro-
phes with singular and plural nouns, as well as with pronouns and contractions.Example sentences are provided
to illustrate the correct use of apostrophes, along with explanations of common errors to watch out for.

KEY TERMS:
• Apostrophe: A punctuation mark (’) used to indicate possession or the omission of letters or numbers.
• Possession: A grammatical construction indicating that one thing belongs to or is associated with another.
• Contraction: A shortened form of a word or group of words, with the omitted letters often replaced by an
apostrophe.
RULES:
• Singular Possession: Add apostrophe + s to singular nouns to show possession.
– Example: The boy’s book (The book belonging to the boy)
• Plural Possession: Add s + apostrophe to plural nouns to show possession.
– Example: The girls’ room (The room belonging to the girls)
• Irregular Plural Possession: For plural nouns not ending in s, add apostrophe + s.
– Example: The children’s toys (The toys belonging to the children)
• Contractions: Use apostrophes to replace omitted letters in contractions.
– Example: Don’t (Do not)
• Pronouns: Possessive pronouns (its, theirs, yours, etc.) do not use apostrophes.
– Example: Its (possessive form of it)
– Example: Its’ (Does not exist and is always wrong)

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ACT WTF
EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
APOSTROPHES

1. The boy is playing with the cat’s toy.

A. No Change
B. cats toy
C. cat toy
D. cats’ toy

Solution: The correct answer is: cat’s toy.

The apostrophe + s indicates singular posses-
sion, showing that the toy belongs to the cat.

2. The dogs bone is buried in the yard.

A. No Change
B. dog’s bone
C. dog’s bones
D. dogs’ bone

Solution: The correct answer is: dog’s bone.

The apostrophe + s shows that the bone be-
longs to the dog (singular possession).

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ACT
3. Its a beautiful day outside.
WTF
A. No Change
B. It’s a beautiful day
C. Its’ a beautiful day
D. Its, a beautiful day

Solution: The correct answer is: It’s a beauti-

ful day. ”It’s” is the contraction for ”It is”. ”Its”
without an apostrophe is the possessive form of
”it”.

4. The math department teachers lounge is newly ren-

ovated.
A. No Change
B. teachers’s lounge
C. teachers’ lounge
D. teacher’s lounge

Solution: The correct answer is: teachers’

lounge. The apostrophe after the s shows
possession by multiple teachers (plural posses-
sion).

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ACT WTF
PRACTICE PROBLEMS - 15 MINUTES
APOSTROPHES

15 MINUTE TIMER VIDEO

1. All four boys shoes are muddy.

A. No Change
B. boys’ shoes
C. boy’s shoes
D. boy’s shoe

2. James hat is on the table.

A. No Change
B. James’ hat
C. James hats
D. James’s hats

3. The childrens books are on the shelf.

A. No Change
B. children’s books
C. childrens’ books
D. childrens’s books
4. The team’s victory was celebrated by the whole town.
A. No Change
B. teams victory
C. teams’ victory
D. team’ victory
5. All the students’ assignments are due tomorrow.
A. No Change
B. student’s assignments
C. students assignments
D. students’s assignments

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ACT
6. The six kids shoes are lined up.
WTF
A. No Change
B. kids’ shoes
C. kid’s shoes
D. kids’s shoe

7. Joes sock is over there.

A. No Change
B. Joes’ sock
C. Joes’s sock
D. Joe’s sock
8. The childrens toys are on the shelf.
A. No Change
B. children’s toys
C. childrens’ toys
D. childrens’s toys
9. The team’s loss was a big let down.
A. No Change
B. team’s loss
C. teams’ loss
D. team’ loss
10. All the students’ assignments were due today.
A. No Change
B. student’s assignments
C. students assignments
D. students’s assignments
11. Whose going to the meeting?
A. No Change
B. Who’s going to the meeting?
C. Whos going to the meeting?
D. Whose’ going to the meeting?

12. The teachers’ books are on the table.

A. No Change
B. teachers books
C. teacher’s books
D. teachers’s books

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ACT
13. The mens shoes are on sale.
WTF
A. No Change
B. mens’ shoes
C. men’s shoes
D. mens’s shoes

14. The womens rights movement was pivotal in history.

A. No Change
B. women’s rights
C. womens’ rights
D. womens’s rights
15. Its important to follow the rules.
A. No Change
B. It’s important
C. Its’ important
D. Its important
16. The witnesses’ testimonies were crucial in the trial.
A. No Change
B. witnesses testimonies
C. witness’s testimonies
D. witnessess testimonies
17. The company’s new policy was well-received by employees.
A. No Change
B. companys’ new policy
C. companies’ new policy
D. company’s new policy
18. Its’ a matter of time before the truth comes out.
A. No Change
B. It’s a matter of time before the truth comes out
C. Its a matter of time before the truth comes out
D. Its’s a matter of time before the truth comes out

19. The women’s soccer team won the championship.

A. No Change
B. womens soccer team
C. women’s soccer team
D. womens’s soccer team

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distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT
20. The group of patients’ records are confidential.
WTF
A. No Change
B. patiente’s records
C. patients records
D. patient’s records

21. Its’ been a long time since we last met.

A. No Change
B. It’s been a long time since we last met
C. Its been a long time since we last met
D. Its’s been a long time since we last met
22. The dog’s collar was too tight.
A. No Change
B. dogs collar
C. dog’s collars
D. dogs’ collar
23. The child’s toys were scattered all over the room.
A. No Change
B. childrens toys
C. child’s toy
D. children’s toys
24. Its’ a pity that he couldn’t attend the party.
A. No Change
B. It’s a pity that he couldn’t attend the party
C. Its a pity that he couldn’t attend the party
D. Its’s a pity that he couldn’t attend the party
25. The men’s department is on the second floor.
A. No Change
B. mens’s department
C. mens department
D. men’s departments

26. The committee of judges’ decisions were final.

A. No Change
B. judges’s decisions
C. judge’s decisions
D. judges decisions

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a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT
27. Its’ crucial to complete the project on time.
WTF
A. No Change
B. It’s crucial to complete the project on time
C. Its crucial to complete the project on time
D. Its’s crucial to complete the project on time

28. All the students’ responsibilities include attending classes and completing assignments.
A. No Change
B. student’s responsibilities
C. students responsibilities
D. students’s responsibilities
29. Its’ amazing how quickly time flies.
A. No Change
B. It’s amazing how quickly time flies
C. Its amazing how quickly time flies
D. Its’s amazing how quickly time flies
30. The scientists’ discoveries changed the course of history.
A. No Change
B. scientist’s discoveries
C. scientists discoveries
D. scientist discoveries

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a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT WTF
PRACTICE PROBLEMS - SOLUTION
APOSTROPHES

1. All four boys shoes are muddy.

A. No Change
B. boys’ shoes
C. boy’s shoes
D. boy’s shoe

Solution: The correct answer is: boys’ shoes. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the shoes
belong to the boys (plural possession).

2. James hat is on the table.

A. No Change
B. James’ hat
C. James hats
D. James’s hats

Solution: The correct answer is: James’ hat. Shows singular possession and the apostrophe is correctly
placed for a word that ends in s.

3. The childrens books are on the shelf.

A. No Change
B. children’s books
C. childrens’ books
D. childrens’s books

Solution: The correct answer is: children’s books. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the
books belong to the children (irregular plural possession).

4. The team’s victory was celebrated by the whole town.

A. No Change
B. teams victory
C. teams’ victory
D. team’ victory

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Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You are free to copy and 9 Donate to ACTWTF
distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT WTF
Solution: The correct answer is: team’s victory. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the
victory belongs to the team (singular possession).

5. All the students’ assignments are due tomorrow.

A. No Change
B. student’s assignments
C. students assignments
D. students’s assignments

Solution: The correct answer is: students’ assignments. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that
the assignments belong to the students (plural possession).

6. The six kids shoes are lined up.

A. No Change
B. kids’ shoes
C. kid’s shoes
D. kids’s shoe

Solution: The correct answer is: kids’ shoes. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the shoes
belong to the kids (plural possession).

7. Joes sock is over there.

A. No Change
B. Joes’ sock
C. Joes’s sock
D. Joe’s sock

Solution: The correct answer is: Joes’ sock. Shows singular possession and the apostrophe is correctly
placed for a word that ends in s.

8. The childrens toys are on the shelf.

A. No Change
B. children’s toys
C. childrens’ toys
D. childrens’s toys

Solution: The correct answer is: children’s toys. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the toys
belong to the children (irregular plural possession).

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Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You are free to copy and 10 Donate to ACTWTF
distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT
9. The team’s loss was a big let down.
WTF
A. No Change
B. team’s loss
C. teams’ loss
D. team’ loss

Solution: The correct answer is: team’s loss. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the loss
belongs to the team (singular possession).

10. All the students’ assignments were due today.

A. No Change
B. student’s assignments
C. students assignments
D. students’s assignments

Solution: The correct answer is: students’ assignments. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that
the assignments belong to the students (plural possession).

11. Whose going to the meeting?

A. No Change
B. Who’s going to the meeting?
C. Whos going to the meeting?
D. Whose’ going to the meeting?

Solution: The correct answer is: Who’s going to the meeting?. ”Who’s” is the contraction for ”Who is”.
”Whose” is the possessive form of ”who”.

12. The teachers’ books are on the table.

A. No Change
B. teachers books
C. teacher’s books
D. teachers’s books

Solution: The correct answer is: teachers’ books. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the
books belong to the teachers (plural possession).

ACTWTF - APOSTROPHES
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Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You are free to copy and 11 Donate to ACTWTF
distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT
13. The mens shoes are on sale.
WTF
A. No Change
B. mens’ shoes
C. men’s shoes
D. mens’s shoes

Solution: The correct answer is: men’s shoes. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the shoes
belong to the men (irregular plural possession).

14. The womens rights movement was pivotal in history.

A. No Change
B. women’s rights
C. womens’ rights
D. womens’s rights

Solution: The correct answer is: women’s rights. The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the
rights belong to the women (irregular plural possession).

15. Its important to follow the rules.

A. No Change
B. It’s important
C. Its’ important
D. Its important

Solution: The correct answer is: It’s important. ”It’s” is the contraction for ”It is”. ”Its” without an apos-
trophe is the possessive form of ”it”.

16. The witnesses’ testimonies were crucial in the trial.

A. No Change
B. witnesses testimonies
C. witness’s testimonies
D. witnessess testimonies

Solution: The correct answer is: witnesses’ testimonies. The apostrophe after s shows possession by
multiple witnesses (plural possession).

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Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You are free to copy and 12 Donate to ACTWTF
distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT
17. The company’s new policy was well-received by employees.
WTF
A. No Change
B. companys’ new policy
C. companies’ new policy
D. company’s new policy

Solution: The correct answer is: company’s new policy. The apostrophe + s indicates singular posses-
sion, showing that the policy belongs to the company.

18. Its’ a matter of time before the truth comes out.

A. No Change
B. It’s a matter of time before the truth comes out
C. Its a matter of time before the truth comes out
D. Its’s a matter of time before the truth comes out

Solution: The correct answer is: It’s a matter of time before the truth comes out. ”It’s” is the contrac-
tion for ”It is”. ”Its’” does not exist and is always incorrect.

19. The women’s soccer team won the championship.

A. No Change
B. womens soccer team
C. women’s soccer team
D. womens’s soccer team

Solution: The correct answer is: women’s soccer team. ”Women” is an irregular plural, so possession
is shown by adding apostrophe + s.

20. The group of patients’ records are confidential.

A. No Change
B. patiente’s records
C. patients records
D. patient’s records

Solution: The correct answer is: patients’ records. The apostrophe after s shows possession by multi-
ple patients (plural possession).

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Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You are free to copy and 13 Donate to ACTWTF
distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT
21. Its’ been a long time since we last met.
WTF
A. No Change
B. It’s been a long time since we last met
C. Its been a long time since we last met
D. Its’s been a long time since we last met

Solution: The correct answer is: It’s been a long time since we last met. ”It’s” is the contraction for ”It
has”. ”Its’” does not exist and is always incorrect.

22. The dog’s collar was too tight.

A. No Change
B. dogs collar
C. dog’s collars
D. dogs’ collar

Solution: The correct answer is: dog’s collar. The apostrophe + s indicates singular possession, show-
ing that the collar belongs to the dog.

23. The child’s toys were scattered all over the room.
A. No Change
B. childrens toys
C. child’s toy
D. children’s toys

Solution: The correct answer is: child’s toys. The apostrophe + s indicates singular possession, show-
ing that the toys belong to the child.

24. Its’ a pity that he couldn’t attend the party.

A. No Change
B. It’s a pity that he couldn’t attend the party
C. Its a pity that he couldn’t attend the party
D. Its’s a pity that he couldn’t attend the party

Solution: The correct answer is: It’s a pity that he couldn’t attend the party. ”It’s” is the contraction for
”It is”. ”Its’” does not exist and is always incorrect.

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Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You are free to copy and 14 Donate to ACTWTF
distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT
25. The men’s department is on the second floor.
WTF
A. No Change
B. mens’s department
C. mens department
D. men’s departments

Solution: The correct answer is: men’s department. ”Men” is an irregular plural, so possession is shown
by adding apostrophe + s.

26. The committee of judges’ decisions were final.

A. No Change
B. judges’s decisions
C. judge’s decisions
D. judges decisions

Solution: The correct answer is: judges’ decisions. The apostrophe after s shows possession by mul-
tiple judges (plural possession).

27. Its’ crucial to complete the project on time.

A. No Change
B. It’s crucial to complete the project on time
C. Its crucial to complete the project on time
D. Its’s crucial to complete the project on time

Solution: The correct answer is: It’s crucial to complete the project on time. ”It’s” is the contraction
for ”It is”. ”Its’” does not exist and is always incorrect.

28. All the students’ responsibilities include attending classes and completing assignments.
A. No Change
B. student’s responsibilities
C. students responsibilities
D. students’s responsibilities

Solution: The correct answer is: students’ responsibilities. The apostrophe after s shows possession
by multiple students (plural possession).

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Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You are free to copy and 15 Donate to ACTWTF
distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.
ACT
29. Its’ amazing how quickly time flies.
WTF
A. No Change
B. It’s amazing how quickly time flies
C. Its amazing how quickly time flies
D. Its’s amazing how quickly time flies

Solution: The correct answer is: It’s amazing how quickly time flies. ”It’s” is the contraction for ”It is”.
”Its’” does not exist and is always incorrect.

30. The scientists’ discoveries changed the course of history.

A. No Change
B. scientist’s discoveries
C. scientists discoveries
D. scientist discoveries

Solution: The correct answer is: scientists’ discoveries. The apostrophe after s shows possession by
multiple scientists (plural possession).

ACTWTF - APOSTROPHES
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Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You are free to copy and 16 Donate to ACTWTF
distribute the material in any medium or format, but you must give credit, provide
a link to the license, and you may not modify the material in any way.