Now you’re ready to add apostrophes to any possessives in the exercises that follow. But be careful. First, make sure the word really possesses something; not every word ending in s is a possessive. Second, remember that certain words already have possessive forms and don’t use apostrophes. Third, even though a word ends in s, you can’t tell where the apostrophe goes until you ask the question, “Who (or what) does the item belong to?” The apostrophe or apostrophe and s should follow the answer to that question. Check your answers after the first set.

Exercise 6.1

1. It is many peoples dream to live in a penthouse.
2. Researchers in Canada have found that a buildings height affects the health of the people who live there.
3. Specifically, scientists at St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto have found a link between living at the top of a tall building and dying of a heart attack.
4. The link exists regardless of a neighborhoods wealth or geographical location.
5. The study shows that a heart attack victims chance of survival above the 16th floor is “less than one percent.”
6. The studys results do not blame this low survival rate on high-rise residents exposure to higher air pressure or the stress of living above others.
7. The results point to rescuers inability to reach heart attack victims on the top floors in time to help.
8. And the higher someones apartment is, the higher the risk is.
9. Scientists suggestions to reduce this risk include giving universal elevator keys to emergency personnel and placing special defibrillators on the upper floors.
10. As a result of this study, however, some peoples dreams of living in a penthouse might change.

Wilson, Paige; Glazier, Teresa Ferster. The Least You Should Know About English: Writing Skills (Page 51). Wadsworth Publishing. Kindle Edition.