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Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions

45 questions

Question 41Question →

Although the engineering department hired several automotive designers to build the new hybrid vehicle, the designers' main concern was it's heavy battery pack.

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

Show answer & explanation

Answer: designers' main concern was its

Answer

The correct answer is 'designers' main concern was its' because it uses the plural possessive form 'designers'' to match the multiple designers mentioned, and the possessive pronoun 'its' to show ownership of the battery pack.
The correct option correctly uses the plural possessive noun 'designers'' to indicate that the concern belongs to the multiple designers mentioned earlier in the sentence. It also properly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to show that the heavy battery pack belongs to the singular hybrid vehicle.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun 'designers' should be singular or plural, and possessive.
The context mentions 'several automotive designers', indicating a plural noun. Since the concern belongs to these designers, the plural possessive form 'designers'' (with the apostrophe after the 's') is required.
This establishes the correct noun form based on plural context.
2
Identify the correct pronoun to describe the relationship between the hybrid vehicle and the heavy battery pack.
The battery pack belongs to the singular 'hybrid vehicle', so the singular possessive pronoun 'its' is required.
This avoids homophone confusion with the contraction 'it's' (it is) or the plural contraction 'they're' (they are).
3
Combine the correct noun and pronoun choices to select the right option.
Combining 'designers'' and 'its' yields the correct phrasing: 'designers' main concern was its'.
This ensures both grammatical agreement and correct punctuation are maintained.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 42Question →

Although the two marine biologists documented the migration pattern, the biologists' primary focus was its deviations from previous years.

Which choice best completes the underlined portion of the sentence?

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Answer: NO CHANGE

Answer

The correct option is the one that contains 'biologists' primary focus was its', which correctly uses the plural possessive form 'biologists'' to indicate the focus belonging to the two biologists, and the possessive pronoun 'its' to show that the deviations belong to the migration pattern.
The correct option is the one that contains 'biologists' primary focus was its' because it correctly implements the plural possessive noun 'biologists'' to refer to the two marine biologists and correctly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to modify 'deviations' without an apostrophe.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun referring to the biologists should be singular or plural, and possessive or not.
The phrase 'two marine biologists' establishes that there are multiple biologists, requiring a plural noun. The phrase 'biologists' primary focus' shows that the focus belongs to the biologists, requiring the possessive form.
Determining noun plurality and possession dictates the correct spelling and apostrophe placement.
2
Determine the correct spelling of the plural possessive noun.
For regular plural nouns ending in -s, the possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe after the -s, resulting in 'biologists'.'
This rules out options with incorrect noun punctuation.
3
Determine whether to use 'its' or 'it's' to modify the noun 'deviations'.
The pronoun must show that the deviations belong to the singular 'migration pattern', which requires the possessive pronoun 'its' (without an apostrophe). The contraction 'it's' (it is) is incorrect in this context.
Selecting the grammatically correct pronoun form prevents homophone confusion.

Key Concept

Apostrophes are used to show possession for plural nouns (typically by adding an apostrophe after the final 's') and must be distinguished from possessive pronouns like 'its', which do not contain apostrophes.
Question 43Question →

Although the restaurant chain launched three new locations last month, the company's primary goal was to maintain it's high standards of service.

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

Show answer & explanation

Answer: company's primary goal was to maintain its

Answer

company's primary goal was to maintain its
The correct answer correctly uses the singular possessive noun 'company's' to modify 'goal', as the sentence refers to a single 'restaurant chain'. It also properly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to refer back to the company.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine whether the noun modifying 'primary goal' should be singular or plural.
The sentence refers to 'the restaurant chain' (singular), so the possessive noun must be singular ('company's') rather than plural ('companies'').
The plural possessive form 'companies'' would incorrectly imply that multiple independent companies are being discussed.
2
Determine whether the sentence requires the possessive pronoun 'its' or the contraction 'it's'.
The sentence indicates a possessive relationship for the 'high standards of service', requiring 'its'.
The spelling 'it's' represents the contraction 'it is' or 'it has', which is grammatically incorrect in this context.
3
Combine the correct singular possessive noun and the correct possessive pronoun.
The correct phrasing is 'company's primary goal was to maintain its'.
This choice establishes correct punctuation and correct pronoun usage.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 44Question →

Although the dance troupe performed several complex routines, the dancers' choreographer worried about its reception among the traditional judges.

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

Show answer & explanation

Answer: NO CHANGE

Answer

NO CHANGE
The correct option correctly uses the plural possessive form 'dancers'' to describe the choreographer of the group of dancers within the troupe. It also correctly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to refer to the reception of the troupe. Because the original phrasing is grammatically correct and appropriate in context, no changes are needed.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun modifying 'choreographer' should be singular or plural, and possessive or not.
The sentence mentions a 'dance troupe,' which is a collective noun indicating a group of multiple dancers. The choreographer belongs to the dancers, so a plural possessive form is required.
This establishes that the correct noun form is the plural possessive 'dancers''.
2
Evaluate whether the pronoun referring to the 'reception' of the troupe should be a contraction or a possessive pronoun.
The sentence refers to the reception of the troupe (possessive), so the possessive pronoun 'its' is correct.
This distinguishes between the possessive pronoun 'its' and the contraction 'it's' (meaning 'it is' or 'it has').
3
Compare the original underlined portion against the identified correct forms.
The original text ('dancers' choreographer worried about its') uses both the plural possessive 'dancers'' and the possessive pronoun 'its' correctly, which matches the required grammatical rules.
This confirms that no change is necessary.

Key Concept

Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 45Question →

Before the final spacecraft launch, the mission controllers double-checked the telemetry data. The controllers' primary worry was it's potential to be corrupted during transmission, which would jeopardize the entire landing sequence.

Which of the following options completes the underlined portion of the sentence in a grammatically correct way?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: controllers' primary worry was its

Answer

controllers' primary worry was its
The correct option properly uses 'controllers'' to show that the worry belongs to the plural group of controllers mentioned in the previous sentence. It also correctly uses 'its' as the possessive pronoun referring to the telemetry data.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun 'controllers' should be singular or plural, and possessive.
The first sentence mentions 'mission controllers' (plural). Because the worry belongs to these controllers, a plural possessive form is needed, which is written as 'controllers''.
To show possession for a plural noun ending in 's', the apostrophe must go after the 's'.
2
Determine whether to use 'its' or 'it's'.
The sentence refers to the potential of the telemetry data. Therefore, the possessive pronoun 'its' is required.
'It's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has', whereas 'its' is the possessive pronoun form.
3
Combine the correct plural possessive noun and the correct possessive pronoun.
The correct phrase is 'controllers' primary worry was its'.
This combination satisfies both the plural noun possession requirement and the possessive pronoun requirement.

Key Concept

Using plural possessive nouns and distinguishing between possessive pronouns and contractions
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