Hello, I'm a language expert with a deep understanding of grammar and punctuation rules. I'm here to help clarify your doubts about the placement of the apostrophe in English sentences. Let's dive into the topic.
The apostrophe is a versatile punctuation mark that can serve several functions in English grammar. It can indicate possession, contraction, or the omission of letters. When it comes to forming plurals and showing possession, the rules can sometimes be confusing. Let's break it down:

### Plurals Without Possession


1. Regular Nouns: These are nouns that form their plurals by adding either the letter `s` or `es`. For example, `cat` becomes `cats`, and `box` becomes `boxes`. There is no need for an apostrophe in these cases.


2. Irregular Nouns: Some nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow the simple `s` or `es` rule. Examples include `man` becoming `men` and `child` becoming `children`. Again, no apostrophe is used here.


3. Uncountable Nouns: These nouns generally do not have a plural form and do not take an apostrophe. Examples include `information`, `rice`, and `water`.

### Possessive Nouns


1. Singular Possessive: To show possession for singular nouns that are not ending in `s`, an apostrophe followed by the letter `s` is added. For example, `The girl's book` indicates the book belongs to the girl.

2. **Plural Possessive for Nouns Ending in "s"**: For plural nouns that already end in `s`, the apostrophe is placed after the `s`. For example, `The girls' books` indicates the books belong to multiple girls.


3. Plural Possessive for Irregular Nouns: Irregular plurals also follow the same rule as regular plurals when it comes to possession. You add an apostrophe after the plural form. For example, `The children's toys` shows possession by multiple children.

### Common Mistakes to Avoid

- Adding an Apostrophe to Make a Plural: It's a common mistake to use an apostrophe + `s` to make a regular noun plural (e.g., `girls'`). Remember, the apostrophe is for possession, not for pluralization.

- **Omitting the Apostrophe in Possessive Forms**: Forgetting the apostrophe can change the meaning of a sentence. For example, `the girls books` could be misinterpreted as a book about girls, rather than books belonging to girls.

- **Using an Apostrophe with Uncountable Nouns**: Since uncountable nouns don't have a plural form, they should not be followed by an apostrophe.

### When to Use an Apostrophe for Contractions

- Contractions: The apostrophe is used to indicate where letters have been omitted in a word. For example, `it's` (it is or it has), `don't` (do not), and `can't` (cannot).

### Summary

- Use an apostrophe to show possession, not to pluralize regular nouns.
- For singular nouns not ending in `s`, add `'s` to show possession.
- For plural nouns ending in `s`, place the apostrophe after the `s`.
- Do not use an apostrophe with uncountable nouns.
- Be cautious with contractions; the apostrophe indicates omitted letters.

Understanding when and where to use the apostrophe can greatly enhance the clarity and correctness of your writing. It's a small mark, but it carries significant weight in conveying the intended meaning.

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Regular nouns are nouns that form their plurals by adding either the letter s or es (guy, guys; letter, letters; actress, actresses; etc.). To show plural possession, simply put an apostrophe after the s. Rule 2b. Do not use an apostrophe + s to make a regular noun plural.read more >>