Examkin

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions

45 questions

Question 1Question →

The majestic oak tree in the center of the park is famous for it's massive, sweeping branches.

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

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The correct answer is the possessive pronoun 'its'. In the sentence, the branches belong to the singular tree, so a singular possessive pronoun is required. The contraction 'it's' (it is) would make the sentence read 'famous for it is massive...', which is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, the simple possessive form without any apostrophe is the correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the relationship between the tree and the branches.
The branches belong to the tree, which means we need a possessive form.
This helps determine whether we need a possessive pronoun or a contraction.
2
Identify the number of the noun being referred to.
The noun 'tree' is singular.
The pronoun must agree in number with the noun it represents (singular 'its' vs. plural 'their').
3
Select the correct singular possessive pronoun.
'its' is the correct spelling of the singular possessive pronoun, whereas 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' and 'its'' is incorrect.
This rules out the contraction 'it's' and the non-existent word 'its''.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between the possessive pronoun 'its' and the contraction 'it's.'
Question 2Question →

The museum's new exhibit features several [artist's] paintings from the Renaissance, though most of the collection is dedicated to local modern sculptors.

Which of the following is the correct punctuation for the underlined word in the sentence above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: artists'

Answer

artists'
The correct answer is the plural possessive form of the noun. The context clue 'several' establishes that there are multiple artists. To show that these multiple artists own the paintings, the apostrophe must be placed after the 's' of the plural noun 'artists', resulting in 'artists'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context around the underlined word to determine if the noun is singular or plural.
The word 'several' preceding the noun indicates that there are multiple artists, meaning a plural noun is required.
Correct punctuation depends on whether the noun is singular or plural.
2
Determine if the noun needs to show possession.
The paintings belong to the artists, so a possessive form is necessary.
Possession must be established because the paintings are owned by the artists.
3
Apply the rule for forming the possessive of a plural noun ending in 's'.
The plural noun 'artists' becomes possessive by adding an apostrophe after the 's', yielding 'artists'.
Regular plural nouns ending in 's' form their possessive by adding only an apostrophe at the very end.

Key Concept

Plural possessive nouns are formed by adding an apostrophe after the final 's' of the plural noun.
Question 3Question →

Read the following sentence and focus on the underlined portion:

Although the board approved the new initiative, the two directors' insistence on it's immediate implementation caused widespread concern among the staff.

Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation and word choice for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: directors' insistence on its

Answer

directors' insistence on its
The correct option uses the plural possessive 'directors'' because the context refers to 'two directors.' It also correctly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to modify 'immediate implementation,' referring back to the singular noun 'initiative.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the number of the noun showing possession.
The context mentions 'two directors', indicating a plural noun.
Determining if the noun is singular or plural is necessary to apply the correct possessive punctuation rule.
2
Apply the plural possessive punctuation rule.
The plural noun 'directors' ends in 's', so the apostrophe must go after the 's' to form 'directors'.
For plural nouns ending in 's', possession is indicated by adding only an apostrophe at the end.
3
Determine if a contraction or possessive pronoun is required for the second pronoun.
The sentence refers to the implementation of the initiative, which requires a possessive relationship ('its immediate implementation').
This determines whether 'its' or 'it's' is grammatically appropriate.
4
Select the correct spelling of the possessive pronoun.
The possessive pronoun is spelled 'its'. The spelling 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is', and 'its'' is grammatically invalid.
This avoids homophone and spelling confusion between possessive pronouns and contractions.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between singular and plural possessives, and between contractions and possessive pronouns.
Question 4Question →

Although the university's department of chemistry boasts a state-of-the-art laboratory for its dozens of scientists, its' researchers' publication rates have declined since the funding cut.

Which of the following choices is the most grammatically correct replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its researchers'

Answer

its researchers'
The correct choice is 'its researchers''. The possessive pronoun 'its' correctly refers to the singular noun 'department of chemistry' without an apostrophe. The plural possessive noun 'researchers'' correctly places the apostrophe after the 's' to indicate ownership by multiple researchers, consistent with the reference to 'dozens of scientists'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the correct pronoun to refer to the antecedent.
The antecedent is 'department of chemistry', which is singular and neuter. The possessive pronoun must be 'its'. The spelling 'its'' is not a valid word, and 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is', which does not fit the possessive structure.
To eliminate options containing incorrect pronoun forms.
2
Determine the number and case of the noun modifying 'publication rates'.
The context mentions 'dozens of scientists' and plural 'publication rates', indicating that the noun 'researchers' must be plural. Since they own the publication rates, it must also be possessive. The plural possessive form is written with the apostrophe after the 's' as 'researchers''.
To identify the correct apostrophe placement for plural possession.
3
Combine the correct pronoun and possessive noun forms.
Combining 'its' and 'researchers'' yields the correct answer: 'its researchers''.
To select the choice that maintains correct grammar and punctuation.

Key Concept

Possessive Pronouns vs. Contractions and Plural Possessive Nouns
Question 5Question →

Although the two candidates debated fiercely, each politicians' speech focused on the same economic reforms. Which of the following is the best replacement for the underlined portion?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: politician's

Answer

politician's
The correct answer is the singular possessive form because the modifier 'each' requires a singular noun, and the noun must show ownership of the following word, 'speech'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical constraint introduced by the modifier preceding the underlined word.
The word 'each' is a singular modifier, meaning it must modify a singular noun.
This rules out plural noun options.
2
Determine if the noun needs to indicate possession.
The noun modifies 'speech' to show ownership of the speech, so it must be possessive.
An apostrophe is required to show that the speech belongs to the politician.
3
Combine the singular noun requirement with the possessive requirement.
The correct form is the singular possessive 'politician's'.
This is the only choice that is both singular and possessive.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives
Question 6Question →

The sanctuary's success is due to [it's volunteers'] dedication, as they spend countless hours monitoring the nesting sites of endangered sea turtles.

Which choice is the most effective correction for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its volunteers'

Answer

its volunteers'
The correct choice is 'its volunteers''. The possessive pronoun 'its' correctly modifies 'volunteers' to show they belong to the sanctuary. The plural possessive 'volunteers'' (with the apostrophe after the 's') correctly agrees with the plural pronoun 'they' later in the sentence and indicates that the dedication belongs to the volunteers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if a contraction or possessive pronoun is needed for the word modifying 'volunteers'.
The sanctuary is a singular noun that owns the volunteers, so we need the singular possessive pronoun 'its'. The contraction 'it's' (it is) is incorrect, and the form 'its'' does not exist.
Choosing the correct pronoun prevents pronoun-contraction confusion.
2
Determine if the noun 'volunteers' should be singular or plural.
The context mentions that 'they' spend countless hours, which indicates multiple people. Therefore, the noun must be plural: 'volunteers'.
Ensuring agreement between the noun and the plural pronoun 'they' that refers to it later.
3
Determine the correct possessive form for the plural noun 'volunteers' modifying 'dedication'.
Since the dedication belongs to the plural volunteers, the apostrophe must go after the 's': 'volunteers''. Without an apostrophe, the relationship is ungrammatical.
Applying the rule for plural possessive nouns ending in 's'.

Key Concept

Possessive pronouns and plural possessive nouns
Question 7Question →

During the international conference, the coordinators reviewed the progress of the research trials. Although the three partner laboratories worked independently, the scientists' consensus on it's efficacy was clear.

Which choice best represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: scientists' consensus on its

Answer

The correct phrasing is 'scientists' consensus on its', using the plural possessive 'scientists'' to indicate the collective consensus of multiple scientists and the possessive pronoun 'its' to modify 'efficacy'.
The context refers to 'three partner laboratories,' which implies there are multiple scientists involved. Therefore, the plural possessive 'scientists'' is required to show that the consensus belongs to all of them. Additionally, the sentence requires the possessive pronoun 'its' to modify the noun 'efficacy' (representing the efficacy of the trials), rather than the contraction 'it's' (it is).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the noun performing the possession and determine if it is singular or plural.
The sentence mentions 'three partner laboratories,' establishing that there are multiple scientists whose consensus is described. The plural possessive form is 'scientists''.
To correctly punctuate the possessive noun based on the surrounding context.
2
Identify whether a contraction or possessive pronoun is needed before the noun 'efficacy'.
The sentence describes the efficacy of the subject (the vaccine or treatment), so the possessive pronoun 'its' is correct. The contraction 'it's' (it is) would create a grammatical error.
To distinguish between homophones based on the grammatical requirements of the sentence.
3
Combine the correct plural possessive noun and the correct possessive pronoun.
The correct combination is 'scientists' consensus on its'.
To select the option that resolves both punctuation challenges correctly.

Key Concept

Possessive apostrophes for singular and plural nouns, and distinguishing possessive pronouns from contractions.
Question 8Question →

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?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

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
Question 9Question →

While the space probe gathered invaluable data from Saturn's rings, the six flight directors' main concern was it's failing power source.

Which of the following options is the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: directors' main concern was its

Answer

The correct option is 'directors' main concern was its', which properly uses the plural possessive apostrophe for 'directors'' and the possessive pronoun 'its' for the space probe.
The correct answer is 'directors' main concern was its' because the sentence refers to the collective concern of 'six flight directors' (requiring the plural possessive noun 'directors'') and the power source of the space probe (requiring the possessive pronoun 'its').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun 'directors' should be singular or plural, and possessive.
The context mentions 'six flight directors,' which is plural. To show possession of the 'main concern,' we add an apostrophe after the 's' to form 'directors''.
This correctly represents a plural possessive noun.
2
Determine whether the pronoun referring to the space probe's power source should be a possessive pronoun or a contraction.
We need the possessive pronoun 'its' to modify 'failing power source'. The contraction 'it's' (meaning 'it is') would be grammatically incorrect in this context.
The sentence refers to the power source belonging to the space probe.
3
Combine the correct choices to select the best option.
The correct combination is 'directors' main concern was its'.
This choice resolves both the plural possessive noun and the possessive pronoun rules correctly.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 10Question →

While the two software developers worked late to patch the security flaw, the programmers' main concern was that the system would lose its users' trust.

Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: NO CHANGE

Answer

NO CHANGE
The correct option correctly uses the plural possessive apostrophe after the 's' in 'programmers' because the introductory clause references 'two software developers.' It also correctly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to show that the trust belongs to the 'system,' whereas the contraction 'it's' (meaning 'it is' or 'it has') would be grammatically incorrect in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the possessive noun 'programmers' should be singular or plural.
Since the sentence refers to 'the two software developers,' the noun must be plural possessive, which is written as 'programmers''.
The introductory clause establishes that there are two developers, so a plural possessive is required.
2
Determine whether the possessive pronoun 'its' or the contraction 'it's' is correct.
The word modifies 'users' trust' and represents ownership by the system, so the possessive pronoun 'its' is correct.
The contraction 'it's' stands for 'it is' or 'it has,' which does not make sense in the phrase 'the system would lose it is users' trust.'

Key Concept

Using apostrophes correctly for singular/plural possessive nouns and distinguishing between the possessive pronoun 'its' and the contraction 'it's'.
Question 11Question →

Though the two companies announced a mutual merger, each board's members defended it's own autonomy during the final negotiations.

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

Show answer & explanation

Answer: board's members defended its

Answer

board's members defended its
The correct option correctly applies the singular possessive form 'board's' to agree with the singular modifier 'each', and it uses the possessive pronoun 'its' (without an apostrophe) to refer to the singular noun 'board'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine whether 'board' should be singular or plural possessive.
Since the sentence uses the word 'each' to refer to the individual boards, the noun must be singular. To show possession of the members, we use the singular possessive form, 'board's'.
The adjective 'each' always modifies a singular noun.
2
Determine the correct pronoun to replace 'it's'.
The pronoun refers back to the singular noun 'board' and must show possession of 'autonomy'. The singular possessive pronoun is 'its'.
'It's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has', and 'its'' is a non-existent spelling. A possessive pronoun is needed here.
3
Combine the correct noun form and pronoun form to choose the correct replacement.
The correct combination is 'board's' and 'its'.
This option resolves both the noun punctuation error and the pronoun homophone error.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 12Question →

Although the committee members were impressed by the design of the new library, they voiced concerns about it's visitors' access to the parking options, which were already crowded with hundreds of vehicles.

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

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its visitors'

Answer

The correct option is the one that reads "its visitors'".
The correct answer correctly uses "its" as the possessive pronoun for the singular noun "library" and "visitors'" as the plural possessive noun. The possessive pronoun "its" never takes an apostrophe, and placing the apostrophe after the "s" in "visitors'" correctly shows that the access belongs to multiple visitors, matching the plural context of the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the correct possessive form for the pronoun referring to the library.
The pronoun refers to the singular noun "library." The possessive form of "it" is "its" without any apostrophe. The spelling "it's" is a contraction for "it is" or "it has," and the spelling "its'" is not a valid English word.
Choosing the correct possessive pronoun avoids homophone and spelling confusion.
2
Determine whether the noun "visitor" should be singular or plural, and possessive or not.
The context mentions "hundreds of vehicles," indicating there are multiple visitors. The access belongs to these visitors, requiring a plural possessive noun: "visitors'". Placing the apostrophe before the "s" ("visitor's") would incorrectly make it singular possessive.
Applying the correct plural possessive punctuation fits the context of the sentence.

Key Concept

Possessive Pronouns and Plural Possessives
Question 13Question →

Although the symphony hired only one guest conductor for the autumn season, the conductors' critique of they're final rehearsal was met with silent hostility from the musicians.

Which choice most effectively corrects the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: conductor's critique of their

Answer

The correct option is the one that reads 'conductor's critique of their'.
The correct choice is the one that uses the singular possessive noun 'conductor's' and the possessive pronoun 'their'. The sentence states that the symphony hired 'only one guest conductor,' which means the noun must be singular possessive ('conductor's'). Additionally, because 'final rehearsal' is a noun phrase, the possessive pronoun 'their' is required to modify it, rather than the contraction 'they're' (which means 'they are').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine whether the noun indicating possession should be singular or plural based on the context.
The clause states the symphony hired 'only one guest conductor,' meaning the singular possessive form 'conductor's' must be used instead of the plural possessive 'conductors'.
This establishes the correct placement of the apostrophe before the 's'.
2
Determine whether a contraction or possessive pronoun is required before the noun phrase 'final rehearsal'.
The context requires the possessive pronoun 'their' to modify 'final rehearsal' rather than the contraction 'they're' (which stands for 'they are').
This prevents a grammatical error and ensures the sentence makes logical sense.

Key Concept

Distinguishing singular and plural possessive nouns and identifying the correct usage of homophones (their vs. they're).
Question 14Question →

To prepare for the winter storm, the two family's houses were reinforced with extra insulation and storm shutters. Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: families'

Answer

The correct answer is the plural possessive form 'families'' because the sentence refers to two families who own houses.
The plural possessive form 'families'' is correct because the word 'two' establishes that multiple families are being referenced, and they own the houses being described. For plural nouns ending in 's', possession is shown by adding only an apostrophe at the end of the word.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify if the underlined noun is singular or plural based on the context.
The modifier 'two' indicates that the noun refers to more than one family, so the plural form 'families' is required.
To determine the correct base noun form before applying possessive punctuation.
2
Determine whether possession is required in the sentence.
The noun modifies 'houses', showing that the houses belong to the families, so a possessive form is necessary.
To decide if an apostrophe is needed to show ownership.
3
Apply the correct apostrophe rule for regular plural nouns ending in 's'.
For a plural noun ending in 's', the apostrophe is placed after the 's', resulting in 'families''.
To correctly format the plural possessive noun.

Key Concept

Plural Possessive Nouns
Question 15Question →

Although the two research vessels collected data on different whale migration routes, each crews' findings depended on it's sonar array.

Which of the following choices represents the correct punctuation and usage for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: crew's findings depended on its

Answer

crew's findings depended on its
The correct option correctly pairs the singular determiner 'each' with the singular possessive 'crew's' and uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to modify 'sonar array'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine whether the noun 'crew' should be singular or plural.
The noun must be singular ('crew') because it is modified by the singular determiner 'each'.
The determiner 'each' always precedes singular countable nouns in this context.
2
Determine the correct possessive form for the singular noun 'crew'.
The correct form is 'crew's'.
Singular possessive nouns are formed by adding an apostrophe followed by 's'.
3
Determine whether to use the possessive pronoun 'its' or the contraction 'it's' to modify 'sonar array'.
The correct word is the possessive pronoun 'its'.
The sentence requires a possessive relationship for the sonar array. The contraction 'it's' stands for 'it is' or 'it has' and is grammatically incorrect here.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Estimated Time:45s
Question 16Question →

Despite the fact that the two sister cities share a single watershed, each municipality's citizens are responsible for it's preservation.

Which choice most clearly and correctly punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: municipality's citizens are responsible for its

Answer

The correct choice is the one that uses the singular possessive noun 'municipality's' and the possessive pronoun 'its'.
The correct option correctly uses the singular possessive noun 'municipality's' and the possessive pronoun 'its'. Since the distributor 'each' is singular, the noun it modifies must be the singular possessive 'municipality's' (not the plural possessive 'municipalities''). To show possession for the singular noun 'watershed', the possessive pronoun 'its' must be used without an apostrophe, as 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun preceding the citizens should be singular or plural.
The distributor 'each' is grammatically singular and must modify a singular noun. Therefore, we must use the singular form 'municipality' rather than the plural 'municipalities'.
This establishes the correct grammatical number for the noun.
2
Determine the correct possessive punctuation for the singular noun 'municipality'.
To show that the citizens belong to the municipality, we add an apostrophe and 's' to the singular noun, resulting in 'municipality's'.
This applies the standard rule for singular noun possession.
3
Determine the correct pronoun form to indicate possession of the watershed.
The sentence requires a possessive pronoun referring to the singular 'watershed'. The correct possessive pronoun is 'its'. We must avoid the contraction 'it's' (it is) and the non-existent form 'its'.
This ensures the pronoun conveys possession rather than a contraction.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Estimated Time:45s
Question 17Question →

Read the sentence and choose the best replacement for the underlined portion.

During the excavation of the ancient Roman villa, when the three archaeologists uncovered a detailed mosaic, the archaeologists' primary goal was to protect it's delicate glass tiles from environmental damage.

Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation and usage for this sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: archaeologists' primary goal was to protect its

Answer

archaeologists' primary goal was to protect its
The correct option correctly uses the plural possessive noun 'archaeologists'' to modify 'primary goal' since there are three archaeologists. It also correctly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to refer to the tiles belonging to the mosaic.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun 'archaeologists' should be singular or plural, and if it requires a possessive form.
The sentence mentions 'three archaeologists', which means the noun must be plural. The goal belongs to these archaeologists, so a plural possessive form is required: 'archaeologists'.
Plural nouns ending in -s form their possessives by adding an apostrophe after the -s.
2
Determine whether to use 'its' or 'it's' to modify 'delicate glass tiles'.
The tiles belong to the mosaic, so we need the possessive pronoun 'its'. The contraction 'it's' stands for 'it is' or 'it has' and does not fit grammatically in this context.
'Its' is the possessive form, whereas 'it's' is a contraction.
3
Combine the correct forms and select the matching option.
The correct phrase is 'archaeologists' primary goal was to protect its'.
This matches the option containing both the correct plural possessive and the correct possessive pronoun.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between singular and plural possessives, and between the possessive pronoun 'its' and the contraction 'it's'.
Question 18Question →

Although the two local businesses shared a downtown office building, each company's employees were proud of its modern workspace.

Which of the following is the correct form of the underlined portion?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: company's employees were proud of its

Answer

company's employees were proud of its
The noun modified by the word 'each' must be singular, so the singular possessive form 'company's' is correct. The pronoun referring back to 'each company' must be the possessive pronoun 'its' (without an apostrophe). The contraction 'it's' (meaning 'it is') is incorrect in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine whether the noun following 'each' should be singular or plural.
The word 'each' requires a singular noun, so we must use 'company' instead of 'companies'.
Correct grammatical agreement with the modifier 'each'.
2
Determine the correct possessive form for the singular noun 'company'.
The singular possessive form is 'company's'.
To show ownership by a single company.
3
Determine whether to use the possessive pronoun 'its' or the contraction 'it's'.
The context requires the possessive pronoun 'its' to refer to the company's workspace.
'it's' is a contraction for 'it is', which does not make sense in the phrase 'it is modern workspace'.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between singular and plural possessives, and between the possessive pronoun 'its' and the contraction 'it's'.
Estimated Time:45s
Question 19Question →

Because the three municipal clinics shared a digital archival system, the clinic's administrators were able to retrieve patient histories without compromising they're privacy.

Which choice represents the correct punctuation and word choice for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: clinics' administrators were able to retrieve patient histories without compromising their

Answer

The choice containing 'clinics' administrators were able to retrieve patient histories without compromising their' is correct because it correctly uses the plural possessive noun 'clinics'' and the possessive pronoun 'their'.
The correct choice uses the plural possessive noun 'clinics'' because the introductory phrase establishes that there are multiple clinics ('three municipal clinics'). It also correctly uses the possessive pronoun 'their' to indicate the privacy belonging to the patients.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun 'clinic' should be singular or plural, and possessive or not.
The sentence refers to 'three municipal clinics', which means multiple clinics are involved. The administrators belong to these clinics, so we need the plural possessive form, which is 'clinics'.
Plural nouns ending in 's' form their possessive by adding an apostrophe after the 's'.
2
Determine if the pronoun modifying 'privacy' should be a possessive pronoun or a contraction.
The context requires a possessive pronoun to show that the privacy belongs to the patients. The possessive pronoun is 'their', not the contraction 'they're' (which stands for 'they are').
Substituting 'they are' into the sentence ('without compromising they are privacy') is grammatically incorrect.
3
Combine these findings to select the correct choice.
The correct option must contain both 'clinics'' and 'their'.
Only this combination satisfies both grammatical requirements.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Question 20Question →

Although the two software companies share a database, each company's developers must update its interface independently.

Which of the following choices best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: NO CHANGE

Answer

NO CHANGE
The sentence is grammatically correct as written. The singular determiner 'each' requires a singular noun, so the singular possessive form 'company's' is correct. The possessive pronoun 'its' is correctly used to show ownership of the interface, while the contraction 'it's' (meaning 'it is') would be incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the determiner 'each' to determine whether the modified noun should be singular or plural.
The word 'each' is a singular determiner, meaning it must modify the singular noun 'company' (possessive 'company's') rather than the plural 'companies' (possessive 'companies'').
Correct modifier-noun agreement is required for grammatical correctness.
2
Determine whether the possessive pronoun 'its' or the contraction 'it's' is appropriate to modify 'interface'.
The sentence requires a possessive pronoun to show ownership of the interface, which is 'its'. The contraction 'it's' stands for 'it is' or 'it has' and does not fit the context.
Distinguishing between possessives and contractions prevents homophone confusion.
3
Identify the option that correctly combines the singular possessive 'company's' and the possessive pronoun 'its'.
The option containing 'company's developers must update its' is the correct choice, which corresponds to the original underlined text.
Selecting the option that resolves all grammatical issues yields the correct answer.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Estimated Time:45s
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