Question

which sentence in this passage does not have an apostrophe error? select the best answer.

\lets have dinner!\ tom yelled as i walked in the house. \lets relax for a moment first,\ i replied. usually, tom is more of a gentlemen, and he lets me relax before we eat. today, however, toms ravenous and eats his dinner while i change into comfortable clothes.

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Apostrophe Rules for Contractions and Possession
Using apostrophes to show ownership or combine words

Step 1: Analyze the first sentence

Let's look at the first sentence:

"Lets have dinner!" Tom yelled as I walked in the house.

• Analysis: The word "Lets" is a contraction of "Let us". Contractions require an apostrophe to replace the missing letter(s). It should be written as "Let's".
• Result: This sentence contains an apostrophe error.

Step 2: Analyze the second sentence

Let's look at the second sentence:

"Let's relax for a moment first." I replied.

• Analysis: The word "Let's" correctly uses an apostrophe for the contraction of "Let us". There are no other words in this sentence that require an apostrophe.
• Result: This sentence does not have any apostrophe errors.

Step 3: Analyze the third sentence

Let's look at the third sentence:

Usually, Tom is more of a gentlemen, and he let's me relax before we eat.

• Analysis: The word "let's" is used here as a simple present-tense verb (from "to let"). It is not a contraction for "let us" (e.g., "he let us me relax" does not make sense), nor is it possessive. Therefore, it should not have an apostrophe and should be written as "lets".
• Result: This sentence contains an apostrophe error.

Step 4: Analyze the fourth sentence

Let's look at the fourth sentence:

Today, however, Toms' ravenous and eats his dinner while I change into comfortable clothes.

• Analysis: The phrase "Toms' ravenous" is meant to mean "Tom is ravenous". This is a contraction of "Tom is", which should be written as "Tom's". Placing the apostrophe after the "s" (\(\text{Toms'}\)) incorrectly implies plural possession.
• Result: This sentence contains an apostrophe error.

Answer:

"Let's relax for a moment first." I replied.