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Question

Difficulty: EasyApostrophes for Possessives and Contractions

The solar power plant, which generates clean energy for thousands of homes, has reached it's maximum capacity during the peak summer months.

Which of the following is the best replacement for the underlined portion?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. itsAnswer
  3. C
    its'
  4. D
    it is

Answer

its
The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun 'its'. In the sentence, the pronoun modifies the noun 'capacity' to show possession by the singular subject 'the solar power plant'. Unlike possessive nouns, possessive pronouns (its, their, your, etc.) do not use apostrophes.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word being tested and the context of the sentence.
The underlined word is 'it's', which modifies the noun phrase 'maximum capacity' belonging to the singular noun 'plant'.
Determining the relationship between the words helps identify whether a contraction or a possessive pronoun is required.
2
Determine the correct grammatical form required by the context.
Since 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is', substituting it into the sentence makes it ungrammatical ('reached it is maximum capacity'). Thus, a possessive form is required.
A possessive adjective must modify the noun 'capacity' to show ownership by the plant.
3
Select the correct spelling of the singular possessive pronoun.
The singular possessive pronoun is spelled 'its' without any apostrophe. The spelling 'its'' is incorrect, and 'it's' is a contraction.
Unlike possessive nouns, possessive pronouns do not use apostrophes to show ownership.

Key Concept

Distinction between the contraction 'it's' and the possessive pronoun 'its'
Estimated Time:40s
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Topics

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions

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