The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College The Grammar Business Part 1 1. How to survive apostrophes

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 2 Apostrophes: what are they? They are those little commas suspended in mid air. They appear in sentences like this: Jane’s sense of humour’s pretty awful.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 3 What are they for? They are used for only two reasons: 1.To show something is missing (a letter or letters, for example) 2.To show belonging/possession

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 4 To show belonging Add apostrophe + s UNLESS the word already ends in S. If the word already ends in S, then just add an apostrophe. Like this: Jane’s dog.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 5 More examples: John’s bad day. Jemima’s uncle Ned. Someone’s lost dog. This is a student’s book. Dogs’ names are sometimes very funny. James’ real name is John.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 6 What about the other use? When a letter is missed out of a word or two words are joined together – like this: -I didn’t really mean it. -It’s too late to say I shouldn’t go. The apostrophe always goes where the missing letters were.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 7 Common confusion People put apostrophes WRONGLY into belonging words like Yours Hers His Ours Its (If it’s has an apostrophe it always means it is)

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 8 Another confusion People see a word. It ends in S. They think they should put an apostrophe before every S. But they are wrong. Unless there’s a letter missed, or it’s to show belonging, there’s no apostrophe.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 9 So the apostrophes in the following are ALL WRONG! She is alway’s going to disco’s. Her’s is as good as mine. He goe’s there every week. Elephants’ do not lay egg’s. Apostrophe’s are a pain in the neck.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 10 They should be like this – not one single apostrophe! She is always going to discos. Hers is as good as mine. He goes there every week. Elephants do not lay eggs. Apostrophes are a pain in the neck.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 11 Sometimes words do need apostrophes but People put them in the wrong places Like this: I did’nt know that. She ca’nt have told him yet Whos’ your friend? Here’s how those should have read: I didn’t know that. She can’t have told him yet. Who’s your friend?

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 12 Exercise: Look at handout 1 Mark apostrophes used for possession with a P Mark apostrophes that show a letter or letters missing with a M Check your results against the answers

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 13 If you’re still confused about this There are more helpnotes about apostrophes. If you keep practising, it will click. Really!