PSAT Writing : Identifying Apostrophe Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 :我dentifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
There wasoutrage in the elementaryschool; thechildrens’ recesswasshortened by a full ten minutes.No error.
There was
No error.
childrens' recess
shortened by a full ten minutes.
school; the
childrens' recess
Because “children” is an irregularly formed plural, the normal apostrophe rules do not apply. The apostrophe goes before the "s": "There was outrage in the elementary school; the children’s recess was shortened by a full ten minutes."
Example Question #2 :我dentifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Thefootball teamsnear defeatinstigatedriotsthrough the streetsof the city.No error
No error
instigated
near defeat
football teams
through the streets
football teams
This sentence has an apostrophe mistake. Since "football teams defeat" has a possesive in it, it needs an "'s" ending. The corrected sentence reads, "The football team's near defeat instigated riots through the streets of the city."
Example Question #1 :我dentifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The boy'steacherhad forgottento correct theirhomework; shehad spent the entire nightplanningthe new geography lesson.No error
homework; she
planning
had forgotten
The boy's
No error
The boy's
Be watchful of possessive plural nouns: here, the correct apostrophe will be at the end of the word: "boys'" is correct because the subject is plural.
Example Question #1 :我dentifying Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
TheScottishhighland cowis infamousforit’s prodigiousmethane production.No error
is
No error
infamous for
it's prodigious
Scottish
it's prodigious
Here, the wrong form of “its/it’s” is used. With the apostrophe, "it's" means “it is.” The possessive form of "it" is "its." The corrected sentence reads: "The Scottish highland cow is infamous for its prodigious methane production."
Example Question #2 :我dentifying Apostrophe Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Magazineadvertisement’sfrom the1950sfrequently portrayedwomencooking,cleaning, andplaying with children.No error
No error
women
advertisement's
cleaning, and
1950s
advertisement's
错误的句子是“广告的,”which should be written as “advertisements.” An apostrophe should be used to show possession (e.g. "Bob’s cat") or when combining two words in a contraction (ex. "it is" can be written as "it’s"). This sentence is referring to magazine advertisements from the 1950s, but the “women cooking, cleaning, and playing” in the magazine advertisements do not belong to the magazine advertisements.
Example Question #1 :我dentifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Distancewas never an obstacle to theGambardella's; no matter wherethey were,theymade sure tostay in touch witheach other.No error
Gambardella's
made sure to
they were
No error
each other
Gambardella's
我t is clear from the excerpt that "Gambardella's" is a plural surname. It is not possessive and should not contain an apostrophe. The rest of the sentence is correct as written.
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