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SAT Reading and Writing skill page

SAT Apostrophes and Possessives Practice

Decide whether a noun owns something, is plural, or needs a contraction before choosing an apostrophe.

Practice apostrophes and possessives in Dolphin SAT Try examples
8-12 min practice time 3 examples on page Standard English Conventions
Practice time 8-12 min
On-page examples 3 examples
Best for Standard English Conventions

What this tests

What to know for this SAT skill

Practice examples

Try a few SAT-style questions

Example 1 Easy

Which choice shows that one student owns the notebook?

  1. students notebook
  2. student's notebook
  3. students' notebook
  4. student notebook
Show answer and explanation

Answer: student's notebook

One student owning one notebook uses singular possessive form: student apostrophe s.

Example 2 Medium

Which choice shows that several teachers share one lounge?

  1. teacher's lounge
  2. teachers' lounge
  3. teachers lounge
  4. teacher lounge's
Show answer and explanation

Answer: teachers' lounge

Several teachers means plural teachers, and ownership adds the apostrophe after the s.

Example 3 Hard

Which sentence uses its or it is correctly?

  1. Its important to check the answer.
  2. It's color changed after heating.
  3. It's important to check the answer.
  4. The app improved it's design.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: It's important to check the answer.

"It is important" contracts to "It's important." The possessive form "its" has no apostrophe.

Quick drills

Practice this skill from more angles

Drill 1

Use singular possessive apostrophes

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 2

Use plural possessive apostrophes

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 3

Separate contractions from possessives

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Drill 4

Avoid confusing its and it is

Pause before the answer choices, write the rule or setup you need, then check whether the question is asking for the value, the relationship, or the best-supported conclusion.

Avoid these traps

Common mistakes on this skill

Solving before naming the task

The SAT often hides the real skill inside familiar wording. Identify the rule, relationship, or question type first.

Choosing an answer that only partly fits

Many wrong answers are close. Check every condition in the question before committing.

Skipping the final check

Reread what the question asks for so you do not answer a nearby but different question.

Study plan

How to practice this skill in Dolphin

  1. Read the question and name the tested skill before looking at the choices.
  2. Write the equation, rule, or passage relationship in plain language.
  3. Eliminate answers that violate the setup or overstate the evidence.
  4. Review misses by writing the exact trap that pulled you toward the wrong answer.
Practice apostrophes and possessives in Dolphin SAT

Related practice

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FAQ

Questions about SAT Apostrophes and Possessives Practice

What is the best way to practice SAT Apostrophes and Possessives Practice?

Start with a few focused examples, review the mistake pattern, then mix the skill into full SAT practice so you can recognize it in context.

Why does this skill matter on the SAT?

It shows up in short, high-leverage questions where one missed rule or setup can quickly cost a point.

Can Dolphin SAT help me drill this skill?

Yes. Dolphin SAT can surface targeted practice, track missed questions, and help you review the patterns that keep repeating.