What does it mean when you put the apostrophe after the s?
I'll answer
Earn 20 gold coins for an accepted answer.20
Earn 20 gold coins for an accepted answer.
40more
40more
Ava Davis
Studied at the University of Toronto, Lives in Toronto, Canada.
As an expert in the field of English grammar and linguistics, I often encounter questions regarding the use of apostrophes, particularly in possessive contexts. The placement of an apostrophe in relation to the letter 's' can indeed be a point of confusion for many, but understanding the underlying rules can clarify this matter significantly.
When we talk about possessive nouns, we are referring to nouns that indicate ownership or a relationship between two entities. In English, there are two primary ways to form the possessive case: by adding an apostrophe followed by an 's' ('s), or just an apostrophe (') if the noun is plural and already ends in 's'. The rule of thumb is as follows:
1. Singular Nouns: If the noun is singular, you add an apostrophe and then an 's' after the noun. This is because the 's' is acting as a suffix to show possession. For example, "The witch's broom" indicates that the broom belongs to one witch.
2. Plural Nouns Ending in 's': When the noun is plural and it already ends with an 's', you simply add an apostrophe after the 's'. This is because the plural form of the noun is considered to include the possessive ending. For instance, "The witches' brooms" suggests that the brooms belong to multiple witches.
It's important to note that there are exceptions to these rules, particularly with irregular plurals or collective nouns. For example, the plural form of 'child' is 'children', which is irregular. The possessive form would be "The children's toys," even though 'children' ends in 'ren', not 's'. Similarly, with collective nouns like 'team' or 'family', the possessive form is often made by adding 's even if the noun is singular when considered alone: "The team's victory" or "The family's reunion."
The use of apostrophes can also extend to contractions, where an apostrophe replaces one or more letters to create a shorter form of a word or phrase. For example, "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has," and "we're" is a contraction of "we are."
Misuse of apostrophes is a common error, often leading to confusion between possessive forms and contractions. For example, "its" (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun, while "it's" (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of "it is" or "it has."
In conclusion, the placement of the apostrophe in relation to the 's' in possessive nouns is a nuanced aspect of English grammar that requires attention to the number (singular or plural) of the noun and its ending. By adhering to the general rules and being aware of the exceptions, one can use apostrophes correctly to convey possession in written English.
When we talk about possessive nouns, we are referring to nouns that indicate ownership or a relationship between two entities. In English, there are two primary ways to form the possessive case: by adding an apostrophe followed by an 's' ('s), or just an apostrophe (') if the noun is plural and already ends in 's'. The rule of thumb is as follows:
1. Singular Nouns: If the noun is singular, you add an apostrophe and then an 's' after the noun. This is because the 's' is acting as a suffix to show possession. For example, "The witch's broom" indicates that the broom belongs to one witch.
2. Plural Nouns Ending in 's': When the noun is plural and it already ends with an 's', you simply add an apostrophe after the 's'. This is because the plural form of the noun is considered to include the possessive ending. For instance, "The witches' brooms" suggests that the brooms belong to multiple witches.
It's important to note that there are exceptions to these rules, particularly with irregular plurals or collective nouns. For example, the plural form of 'child' is 'children', which is irregular. The possessive form would be "The children's toys," even though 'children' ends in 'ren', not 's'. Similarly, with collective nouns like 'team' or 'family', the possessive form is often made by adding 's even if the noun is singular when considered alone: "The team's victory" or "The family's reunion."
The use of apostrophes can also extend to contractions, where an apostrophe replaces one or more letters to create a shorter form of a word or phrase. For example, "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has," and "we're" is a contraction of "we are."
Misuse of apostrophes is a common error, often leading to confusion between possessive forms and contractions. For example, "its" (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun, while "it's" (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of "it is" or "it has."
In conclusion, the placement of the apostrophe in relation to the 's' in possessive nouns is a nuanced aspect of English grammar that requires attention to the number (singular or plural) of the noun and its ending. By adhering to the general rules and being aware of the exceptions, one can use apostrophes correctly to convey possession in written English.
2024-05-13 17:50:46
reply(1)
Helpful(1122)
Helpful
Helpful(2)
Studied at the University of British Columbia, Lives in Vancouver, Canada.
In possessives, the placement of the apostrophe depends on whether the noun that shows possession is singular or plural. Generally, if the noun is singular, the apostrophe goes before the s. The witch's broom. If the noun is plural, the apostrophe goes after the s: The witches' brooms.
2023-06-19 03:10:05
Charlotte Richardson
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
In possessives, the placement of the apostrophe depends on whether the noun that shows possession is singular or plural. Generally, if the noun is singular, the apostrophe goes before the s. The witch's broom. If the noun is plural, the apostrophe goes after the s: The witches' brooms.
