Possessive Apostrophes Worksheet - Practice forming possessive phrases with correct apostrophe usage.

It looks like you've uploaded an image of a worksheet titled "Possessive Apostrophes" from *Teaching Resources Limited (2014)*, which focuses on using apostrophes correctly to show possession in English.

Let's go through the task step by step and solve it with explanations.

---

🔹 Task 1: Understanding Possessive Apostrophes

> Instruction:
> A possessive apostrophe shows ownership or connection. It is used when something belongs to someone or something.

> Example:
> "The painting was stolen out of the brothers’ house."
> → The word "brothers" becomes brothers', showing that the house belongs to the brothers.

> ✔ Rule:
> - For plural nouns ending in -s, add only an apostrophe after the s:
> → *the brothers'*
> - For singular nouns, add 's:
> → *the boy’s*
> - For plural nouns not ending in -s, add 's:
> → *the children’s*

---

🔹 Task 2: Rewrite the Phrases Using Correct Possessive Form

> Instructions:
> Rewrite the phrases below so that they include a possessive apostrophe. The first one has been done for you.

Let’s go through each one:

1. the mango tree of the sister
→ the sister’s mango tree
*(Singular noun “sister” → add 's)*

2. the wines of the men
→ the men’s wines
*(Plural noun “men” → ends in -n, not -s → add 's)*

3. the bicycle of the wife
→ the wife’s bicycle
*(Singular → add 's)*

4. the fruit of the trees
→ the trees’ fruit
*(Plural noun “trees” → ends in -s → just add apostrophe after s)*

5. the switch of the Asparagus
→ the Asparagus’ switch
*(“Asparagus” is singular and ends in -s → we treat it like a singular noun, so add 's → but note: some style guides prefer Asparagus’s. However, since it's a plant name, "Asparagus’" is acceptable here.)*
→ the Asparagus’ switch *(or possibly Asparagus’s — both are acceptable depending on style, but this worksheet likely expects Asparagus’ as per pattern)*

6. the wave of the mango tree
→ the mango tree’s wave
*(Compound noun — “mango tree” is singular → add 's at the end)*

7. the cats of the owner
→ the owner’s cats
*(“owner” is singular → add 's)*

8. the opinion of the sister
→ the sister’s opinion
*(singular → add 's)*

9. the branches of the tree
→ the tree’s branches
*(singular → add 's)*

10. the laughter of the children
→ the children’s laughter
*(plural noun “children” → add 's)*

---

🔹 Task 3: Three Phrases Written Without Apostrophes – Add Them Correctly

> Instructions:
> Three phrases were written without apostrophes. You might not think so, but they are correct. Write them with the apostrophes added.

But wait — the instruction says:
> *"Three phrases were written without apostrophes, although you might not think so, check out these ones."*

Then lists:

1. in three days’ time
→ This is already correct!
→ in three days’ time
*(“three days” is plural, ends in -s → add apostrophe after s)*

2. in the time of three weeks
→ Should be: in the time of three weeks’?
But the original phrase is "in the time of three weeks" → no apostrophe.
But actually, this is not possessive. We’re talking about a period of time, not something belonging to the weeks. So no apostrophe is needed.

Wait — the instruction says: *"These phrases were written without apostrophes, although you might not think so, check out these ones."* — meaning they should have apostrophes, but they don’t.

Let’s analyze:

- in three days’ time → ✔ correct (possessive: time belonging to three days)
- in the time of three weeks → ✘ incorrect usage — but if we rephrase:
→ in three weeks’ time → this is standard.
→ So maybe the intended answer is: in three weeks’ time?

But the phrase given is "in the time of three weeks" — this is awkward. The correct idiom is:
> "in three weeks’ time"
→ So perhaps the intended rewrite is: in three weeks’ time

But let’s look at the third one.

3. in the time of three years
→ Similarly, correct form is: in three years’ time

So the idea is:
Even though the phrases seem like they don’t need apostrophes, they do because they refer to time belonging to periods.

But the original phrases are:

1. in three days’ time → ✔️ already has apostrophe (correct)
2. in the time of three weeks → ✘ needs to become in three weeks’ time
3. in the time of three years → ✘ needs to become in three years’ time

Wait — but the instruction says: *"Three phrases were written without apostrophes..."* — so maybe the example "in three days’ time" is just an example of what to do, and the other two are missing apostrophes?

But looking again:

> "Three phrases were written without apostrophes... check out these ones."

Then lists:

1. in three days’ time → already has apostrophe
2. in the time of three weeks
3. in the time of three years

So perhaps the first one is an example of how it should be, and the other two are meant to be corrected?

But the way it’s written suggests all three are examples, and the first one is already correct.

So the correct answers would be:

- in three days’ time → ✔️ (already correct)
- in the time of three weeks → → in three weeks’ time
- in the time of three years → → in three years’ time

But note: "in the time of three weeks" is not idiomatic. The standard expression is "in three weeks’ time", where weeks’ shows possession: the time belongs to the span of three weeks.

So final corrected versions:

1. in three days’ time → ✔ (correct)
2. in three weeks’ time → ✔ (corrected)
3. in three years’ time → ✔ (corrected)

But the worksheet may expect you to write them with apostrophes, even if the original phrasing was awkward.

---

✔ Final Answers:

#### Part 1: Rewriting with Possessive Apostrophes

| Original Phrase | Corrected Version |
|------------------|-------------------|
| the mango tree of the sister | the sister’s mango tree |
| the wines of the men | the men’s wines |
| the bicycle of the wife | the wife’s bicycle |
| the fruit of the trees | the trees’ fruit |
| the switch of the Asparagus | the Asparagus’ switch |
| the wave of the mango tree | the mango tree’s wave |
| the cats of the owner | the owner’s cats |
| the opinion of the sister | the sister’s opinion |
| the branches of the tree | the tree’s branches |
| the laughter of the children | the children’s laughter |

#### Part 2: Add Apostrophes to These Phrases

1. in three days’ time → ✔️ (already correct)
2. in the time of three weeks → in three weeks’ time
3. in the time of three years → in three years’ time

---

📝 Explanation Summary:

- Possessive apostrophes show ownership.
- For singular nouns: add 's → *boy’s*, *cat’s*
- For plural nouns ending in -s: add ’ → *boys’*, *trees’*
- For plural nouns not ending in -s: add 's → *children’s*, *men’s*
- Time expressions like “in three days’ time” use possessive form because the time belongs to the duration.

---

✔ Final Answer (for the last section):

> in three days’ time
> in three weeks’ time
> in three years’ time

These are the correct forms with proper possessive apostrophes.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for younger learners!