SAT Writing › Identifying 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.
Werent you supposed to be guarding the food stores last night? No error
Werent
supposed
No error
be guarding
night?
"Weren't" is a contraction of the words "were not" and must always contain an apostrophe. "Werent" is incorrect as written in the provided sentence, as it is missing this apostrophe.
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Scientists have been tracking the Canadian geeses’ migratory patterns for the better part of thirty years, and they have begun to notice some unusual habits. No error.
geeses'
have been tracking
the better
have begun
No error.
The plural of goose is “geese,” not “geeses,” so the correct possessive form would be “geese’s.” "The better part of" is a commonly used phrase, and "have been tracking" and "have begun" are both the correct forms of the present perfect.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no errors at all.
Hunters in the boreal region have complained about the statewide hunting sanctions, since the local deers’ prevalence has led to the destruction of many valuable crops. No error
the local deers’
No error
sanctions
boreal region
has led to
The plural of deer is “deer,” not “deers,” so the correct possessive form would be “deer’s.” Everything else in the sentence is grammatically correct.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
There were rumors that the teacher’s lounge was getting a new vending machine, but these rumors were belied by an announcement about school budget cuts. No error
the teacher’s lounge
No error
machine,
but these
about school budget cuts.
Because multiple teachers work at the school and use the lounge, we need a plural possessive: “teachers’ lounge” is the correct form. (Since we have two independent clauses joined with a conjunction, the correct punctuation mark before “but” is a comma and not a semicolon.)
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As she drives the car through the geese's puddle, it's swinging door flies open. No error
it's
drives
geese's
door flies
No error
The "it" in the second clause logically must be the car, not the geese's puddle. The contraction "it's" is only used as a replacement for the phrase "it is;" when expressing possession by an object, "its" (without an apostrophe) is always the correct form. The present tense verbs, while unusual, are not incorrect.
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Everyone at the hospital was complaining bitterly about the new overtime policy; the nurse’s station in particular was a hotbed of dissent. No error.
nurse's station
about
policy;
dissent.
No error.
Because multiple nurses work at the hospital, we need a plural possessive: “nurses’ station” is the correct form. Elsewhere in the sentence, “about” is the correct preposition to use with “complaining,” “dissent” is a word that means strong disagreement, and the semicolon is used correctly to separate two independent clauses.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
After the scandal, the whole communitys' sense of trust was shattered. No error
communitys'
No error
After the scandal,
trust
was shattered.
Use an apostrophe to indicate possession, if the noun ends in "s," then the apostrophe should follow the "s." If the noun does not end in "s," then add an "s" after the apostrophe. "Community" is a singular noun that does not end in "s," therefore to indicate possession with the word "community," you must write "community's."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The strange beast had hurt its paw; it was roaring loudly. No error
No error
its
The strange beast
paw;
roaring loudly.
When one wishes to convey possession with the pronoun "it," "its" is the correct construction. The sentence above contains no error and is correct as written.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In all three vital trials, the juries' verdicts were still being debated. No error
No error
juries'
In
vital trials,
debated
Use an apostrophe to indicate possession. If the noun ends in "s," then the apostrophe should follow the "s." If the noun does not end in "s," then add an "s" after the apostrophe. Therefore, to indicate possession with "juries," you merely need to add an apostrophe after the "s." The sentence above is correct as written.
Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.
Journalists and animal enthusiasts alike flocked to the wolf's enclosure to gawk at the pack’s newest litter. No error.
wolf's
alike
pack's
No error.
gawk at
Because there’s an entire pack of wolves (and some new pups!), the singular possessive “wolf’s enclosure” should actually be “wolves’ enclosure.” “Pack’s” has the correct apostrophe form.