What is the correct use of the apostrophe in possessive nouns?

Study for the TEAS English and Language Usage Test. Master English skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Get exam-ready today!

The correct use of the apostrophe in possessive nouns is demonstrated in the choice where "Dog's bone" is written correctly. In English, the apostrophe is used to indicate possession, showing that something belongs to someone or something. In this context, "dog" is a singular noun, and adding an apostrophe followed by "s" forms the possessive. Therefore, "Dog's bone" signifies that the bone belongs to one dog.

When considering other options, "Dogs bone" lacks the necessary apostrophe to indicate possession. "Dogs' bone" suggests that the bone belongs to multiple dogs, which does not align with the singular context presumed in the question. Lastly, "Dog's bones'" contains an unnecessary apostrophe after "bones," which is not appropriate in standard possessive construction. Thus, the choice indicating "Dog's bone" effectively communicates singular possession.

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