Apostrophes (Test 1)

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	Anna can't/c'ant/ca'nt expect to be invited.

	The yacht was making it's/its maiden voyage.

	You're/Your as daft as a brush.

	Your PC can not/cannot handle these pictures.

	Take them, David. They're ours/our's/ours'.

	As a minister, she should of/have known better.

	I know its/it's going to need painting soon.


	An apostrophe can be used to replace a missing letter (or letters).

	Anna can't expect to be invited. The apostrophe replaces the letters "no" in "cannot". Anna c'ant expect to be invited. apostrophe in the wrong place Anna ca'nt expect to be invited. apostrophe in the wrong place


	The word "its" is used to show possession (like "his" and "her"); whereas, "it's" is short for "it is" or "it has".

	The yacht was making its maiden voyage. The word "its" shows possession (i.e. the maiden voyage of the yacht). The yacht was making it's maiden voyage. If you expand "it's" to "it is" or "it has", the sentence is nonsense.


	"You're" is short for "you are"; whereas, "your" is used to show possession (e.g. your car).

	You're as daft as a brush. Expanded this is: "You are as daft as a brush." Your as daft as a brush. "Your" is not short for "you are".


	"Cannot" is one word.

	Your PC cannot handle these pictures. "cannot" one word Your PC can not handle these pictures.


	The words "yours", "hers", "ours" and "theirs" do not have apostrophes in them. (They are called "absolute possessives".)

	Take them, David. They're ours. There are no apostrophes in absolute possessives. Take them, David. They're our's. Take them, David. They're ours'.


	The word "of" never follows "could", "should" or "would".

	As a minister, she should have known better. As a minister, she should of known better. This is a common mistake. Remember that "should've" is short for "should have" and not "should of".


	"It's" is short for "it is" or "it has"; whereas, "its" is used to show possession (like "his" and "her").

	I know it's going to need painting soon. If you expand "it's" to "it is", the sentence is still correct. I know its going to need painting soon. If you replace "its" with "his", the sentence is nonsense. (Try this test with the following sentence: "I can see its tail.")