ParaPro Assesment Practice Exam

Which punctuation mark is used for possession?

1. Comma

2. Colon

3. Period

4. Apostrophe

The correct answer is: Apostrophe

The apostrophe is the punctuation mark used to indicate possession in the English language. When a noun possesses something, an apostrophe is added to the noun to show that ownership. For singular nouns, apostrophes are typically added before the 's' (for example, "the girl's book" means the book belongs to the girl). In the case of plural nouns that already end in 's,' the apostrophe is placed after the 's' (for instance, "the dogs' owner" indicates the owner of multiple dogs). Understanding the function of the apostrophe in this context is essential for conveying relationships of ownership clearly and accurately in writing. Other punctuation marks such as commas, colons, and periods serve different grammatical purposes; commas are used to separate elements in a series or clauses, colons introduce lists or explanations, and periods signal the end of a sentence. Thus, the apostrophe is uniquely positioned to convey possession.