SAT Apostrophes and Possessives Rules
By the Cheetah Prep team
Apostrophes do two things: they form contractions, where it's means it is, and they show possession, as in the dog's bone. The single most tested pair on the SAT is its versus it's. Its is possessive and takes no apostrophe. It's always means it is or it has. If you cannot swap in it is, use its.
The other trap is telling a plural from a possessive that sound the same out loud: students, student's, students'. A plain plural takes no apostrophe at all. A singular possessive adds apostrophe-s. A plural possessive puts the apostrophe after the s. Read the sentence for meaning, not for sound.
The Apostrophes and Possessives Rules the SAT Tests
Its is possessive; it's means it is
Its shows possession and takes no apostrophe. It's is a contraction of it is or it has.
The company raised it's prices after the merger.
The company raised its prices after the merger.
On the SAT: One of the most tested single distinctions in the section.
Singular possessive adds apostrophe-s
To make a singular noun possessive, add an apostrophe and an s.
The dogs collar was too tight.
The dog's collar was too tight.
On the SAT: The SAT distinguishes a plural noun from a singular possessive that sound identical when read aloud.
Plural possessive puts the apostrophe after the s
To make a regular plural noun possessive, add an apostrophe after the existing s.
The teacher collected all the student's essays at once.
The teacher collected all the students' essays at once.
On the SAT: Choices differ only in apostrophe placement: dogs, dog's, and dogs'.
Plurals never take an apostrophe
A plain plural, with no possession, has no apostrophe.
The lab ordered three new microscope's.
The lab ordered three new microscopes.
On the SAT: The SAT adds a stray apostrophe to a simple plural to see if you catch it.
Drill Apostrophes and Possessives on Real Questions
Knowing a rule and spotting it under time pressure are different skills. The diagnostic shows whether apostrophes and possessives is costing you points, and Cheetah Prep drills each rule in real digital SAT questions until you catch the pattern on sight.
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