The apostrophe A Answers

1 Although Toms mother is wealthy shes not particularly happy.
2 The examiners worst nightmare came true when he lost his briefcase in a few moments carelessness.

(If you had read ‘they‘ and ‘their‘ in the sentence (instead of he and his) the apostrophe would have been placed in a different position – i.e. "the examiners worst nightmare came true when they lost their briefcase (*) in a few moments carelessness. *We would in any case assume not a communal briefcase but several, so briefcases would be another clue!)

3 Im sure the others said weve got an eight oclock start tomorrow.
4 Despite having got to bed late, he managed to get up this morning having had a decent nights sleep.
5 Marys doctors the best in the city.
6 The days news is on daily at ten in the evening.
7 Its time the cat was given its food, isnt it?
8 Most farmers in the same situation wouldve opted to remain on their familys land.
9 The documentarys on in an hours time.
10 Grahams children both support Yorks football and rugby teams.

NB If the sentence read "Mary and Graham’s children both support York’s football and rugby teams" there would still only be one apostrophe, and in the same position after the second name.

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