How to Solve Apostrophes for the New Digital SAT | TTA Guide
Apostrophes for the NEW Digital SAT
Don't let tricky punctuation trip you up! Let's master apostrophes together.
Quick Check: Apostrophes
Studies suggest memories are stored as unique firing patterns of the ____________. When a memory is recalled, those patterns replay.
Which choice completes the text following Standard English rules?
Making Words Plural: More Than One
Usually, to talk about more than one thing, we just add an -s or -es. Simple, right? The key thing to remember is: don't use an apostrophe for regular plurals.
The dinosaurs ruled the Earth. (More than one dinosaur)
Powerful supernovas light up distant galaxies. (More than one supernova)
For words ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or sometimes -o, we often add -es:
City buses arrive every 15 minutes. (More than one bus)
Tornadoes can be incredibly destructive. (More than one tornado)
And watch out for words that change completely!
Happy children played outside. (More than one child)
A shark's teeth are replaced often. (More than one tooth)
Showing Ownership for One: Singular Possessive ('s)
Want to show something belongs to one person or thing? Just add an apostrophe and an s ('s) at the end. This rule is pretty consistent.
The robot's sensors scanned the area. (The sensors belong to one robot)
A cactus's spines offer protection. (The spines belong to one cactus)
Even if the singular word already ends in -s, you still add 's:
The boss's instructions were clear. (The instructions belong to one boss)
An octopus's arms are quite flexible. (The arms belong to one octopus)
This rule also applies to those irregular words:
The child's drawing was colorful. (The drawing belongs to one child)
That woman's idea was brilliant. (The idea belongs to one woman)
Ownership for Many: Plural Possessive (s' or 's)
Okay, what if something belongs to more than one thing?
If the plural word already ends in -s (like most regular plurals), just add an apostrophe after the s (s').
The scientists' breakthrough was amazing. (The breakthrough belongs to multiple scientists)
Both volcanoes' eruptions were studied. (The eruptions belong to multiple volcanoes)
But what about those tricky irregular plurals that don't end in -s (like children, mice, people)? For these, you add 's, just like you do for singular possessives.
The children's laughter filled the room. (The laughter belongs to multiple children)
We heard the mice's tiny squeaks. (The squeaks belong to multiple mice)
The people's choice was clear. (The choice belongs to multiple people)
The geese's flight path took them south. (The flight path belongs to multiple geese)
Words That Play By Their Own Rules: Irregular Plurals
Some words just don't follow the add -s or -es rule for plurals. Keep an eye out for these common ones:
Child → Children
Tooth → Teeth
Foot → Feet
Mouse → Mice
Person → People
Man → Men; Woman → Women
Goose → Geese
Ox → Oxen
Remembering these helps avoid simple mistakes on the SAT!
Apostrophes Doing Double Duty: Contractions
Apostrophes aren't just for ownership! They also step in to create contractions. This is when we combine two words (like a noun/pronoun and a verb like *is* or *has*) and use an apostrophe (') to mark where letters were taken out.
The newspaper's delivered daily. (Means: The newspaper is delivered daily.)
The study's been published. (Means: The study has been published.)
It's important to know the difference. (Means: It is important...)
Don't mix these up with possessives! In contractions, the 's means "is" or "has". For possessives, it shows belonging (like *the dog's bone*).
Key Apostrophe Rules Summarized
Let's boil it down:
- Noun + Noun = Possession Needed: If a noun is followed directly by another noun it modifies, the first noun likely needs an apostrophe to show ownership.
The cat's toy (The toy belongs to the cat) - Noun + Other Word (Verb, Adjective, etc.) = No Apostrophe (Usually): If a noun is followed by something other than a noun it possesses, it usually doesn't need an apostrophe. It might just be plural.
The cats play. (Multiple cats are playing) - Plural Possessive (ends in -s): Add apostrophe after the 's'.
The cats' toys (Toys belonging to multiple cats) - Plural Possessive (doesn't end in -s): Add 's.
The children's toys (Toys belonging to multiple children) - Singular Possessive (even if ends in -s): Add 's.
The boss's office (Office of one boss)
Test Your Apostrophe Skills!
How would you write the plural, singular possessive, and plural possessive forms for these words?
- Kangaroo
- Galaxy
- Octopus
- Cactus
Think it through, then check your ideas below.
Another Quick Check
Recent research suggests emotions involve complex interactions within the ____________. When someone feels something, these networks activate.
Which choice correctly uses Standard English?
Now Try Analyzing One
Slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo's debut novel The Poet X—winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature—features the experiences of ______ protagonist, fifteen-year-old Xiomara Batista.
Think about what word should go in the blank and if it needs an apostrophe. Click below to see a hint.
Visual Analysis Hint:
Look at the words around the blank:
(What word represents the 'owner' here? Is it singular or plural?)
(What 'belongs' to Noun 1? Is it singular or plural?)
The blank needs to connect the protagonist to the novel ("The Poet X"). Does the novel *possess* the protagonist in this context? If so, how do we show possession for a singular title like "The Poet X"?
(Correct choice for the blank would be something like "its" or "the novel's")
Mastering Grammar Pays Off!
Understanding rules like apostrophes is crucial for nailing the Writing section of the Digital SAT. Consistent practice helps make these rules second nature.
Ready to apply these skills? Sharpening your grammar is a great step towards tackling full digital SAT practice tests and achieving your target score!
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