| Topic | The apostrophe ( ’ ) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source | https://grammar.collinsdictionary.com/easy-learning/the-apostrophe | ||||||||||
| Section | Punctuation | ||||||||||
| Content | The apostrophe ( ’ ) - Easy Learning GrammarShowing possessionThe apostrophe ( ’ ) is used to show that something belongs to someone. It is usually added to the end of a word and followed by an -s.-’s is added to the end of singular words. a baby’s pushchair Hannah’s book a child’s cry -’s is added to the end of plural words not ending in -s. children’s games women’s clothes people’s lives An apostrophe alone (’) is added to plural words ending in -s. Your grandparents are your parents’ parents. We’re campaigning for workers’ rights. They’ve hired a new ladies’ fashion guru. -’s is added to the end of names and singular words ending in -s. James’s car the octopus’s tentacles -’s is added to the end of certain professions or occupations to indicate workplaces. She’s on her way to the doctor’s. James is at the hairdresser’s. -’s is added to the end of people or their names to indicate that you are talking about their home. I’m going over to Harry’s for tea tonight. I popped round to Mum’s this afternoon, but she wasn’t in. Note that if the word is a classical Greek name, or a historical figure or building, an apostrophe only is sometimes preferred. Dickens’ novels St Giles’ Cathedral whole phrases My next-door neighbour’s dog was barking away like mad. John and Cath’s house was on TV last night. indefinite pronouns such as somebody or anywhere Is this anybody’s pencil case? It’s nobody’s fault but mine. each other We’re getting used to each other’s habits. We kept forgetting each other’s names. the middle of the street (not the street’s middle) the front of the house (not the house’s front) the boy’s books [= the books belonging to the boy] the boys’ books [= the books belonging to the boys] Note that: An apostrophe is not used to form possessive pronouns such as its, yours, or theirs. An apostrophe is not used to form the plurals of words such as potatoes or tomatoes. With letters and numbersAn apostrophe is used in front of two figures referring to a year or decade.French students rioted in ’68 [short for ‘1968’]. He worked as a schoolteacher during the ’60s and early ’90s. Mind your p’s and q’s. His 2’s look a bit like 7’s. She got straight A’s in her exams. REMEMBERit’s = it is, e.g. It’s a holiday today. its = belonging to it, e.g. The dog was scratching its ear. Contracted formsAn apostrophe is used in shortened forms of words to show that one or more letters have been missed out. Contractions are usually shortened forms of auxiliary verbs
not We/you/they aren’t He/she/it/one isn’t I/we/they haven’t He/she/it/one hasn’t If ’s is followed by an -ing form, it represents the auxiliary is. She’s reading a book about the ancient Egyptians. He’s going to Ibiza for his holidays. If ’s is followed by an adjective or a noun phrase, it represents the main verb is. She’s nervous about meeting my parents. He’s brilliant at maths. If ’s is followed by a past participle, it can represent is as it is used in the passive, He’s portrayed by the media as a kindly old grandfather. It’s often said that rock stars are frustrated actors. She’s broken her wrist. It’s been ages since we last saw you. If ’s is followed by got, it represents the auxiliary has. She’s got two brothers and one sister. It’s got everything you could want. If ’d is followed by a past participle, it represents the auxiliary had. I’d raced against him before, but never in a marathon. She couldn’t believe what she’d done. If ’d is followed by a base form, it represents the modal auxiliary would. I’d give up now, if I were you. When we were kids we’d spend hours out on our bikes. If ’d is followed by rather or better, it represents the modal auxiliary would. We’d better go home soon. I’d rather not talk about that. |
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