Definition of APOSTROPHE ( 's )
The apostrophe is used to show possession and to form the plural of many nouns and symbols. (Possessive nouns and pronouns are also covered in Parts of Speech under Nouns and Pronouns.)
1) POSSESSIVE OF SINGULAR NOUNS
The possessive of a singular noun is formed by adding ( 's ). Names that end in a z sound often take only the apostrophe to avoid the awkwardness of too many s sounds.
Example:
- The mechanic's wrench.
- The tree's leaves.
- Moses's tablets.
- Mrs. Gonzales' maid.
- Gloria's briefcase.
- Mr. Jones' house.
- Gus's workbench.
- Ned Stanis' boots.
2) POSSESSIVE OF PLURAL NOUNS
The plural possessive of nouns ending in (s) is formed by adding only the apostrophe. All other plural nouns take ( 's ).
Example:
- The Harlands' trip.
- Children's shoes.
- The teams' scores.
- The trees' leaves.
- Men's sports wear.
- Women's networks.
3) INDEFINITE AND PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Indefinite pronouns (everyone, no one, anybody, everybody, someone, somebody, one) require an apostrophe to form the possessive. However, personal possessive pronouns (his, her, theirs, your/yours, my/mine, our/ours) do not use an apostrophe.
Example:
- Is this someone's book?
- I'll take anyone's ideas.
- Yes, the book is hers.
- Your ideas are great.
4) INDIVIDUAL AND JOINT POSSESSION
When hyphenated words or names of organizations, companies, or individuals are used to show joint possession, only the last word takes ( 's ) or an apostrophe.
In cases of individual possession, both nouns or pronouns take ( 's ) or the apostrophe only.
Joint possession:
- Lin and Chan's bicycles. (The bicycle is owned by both Lin and Chan.)
- The vice-presidents' office. (The office is used by more than one vice president.)
- IBM and Xerox's new venture. (The two companies are working together on one venture.)
Individual possession:
- Lin's and Chan's bicycles. (Notice the plural noun after the names'a clue that each person owns a bicycle.)
- Her father-in-law's and brother's golf scores.
- Texaco's and Esso's annual reports.
5) UNITS OF MEASURE AS POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES
Units of measure such as day, week, yard, cent, and hour take an ( 's ) or an apostrophe when used as possessive adjectives.
Example:
- A moment's peace.
- A month's pay.
- A dollar's worth.
- Ten minutes' work.
- Three weeks' pay.
- Two cents' worth.
6) PLURAL FORMS OF SYMBOLS
The apostrophe or ( 's ) is used to form the plural of letters, numbers, signs, symbols, and words referred to as words.
Example:
- All the R's in this article were printed backwards.
- Mark these items with X's and those with Z's.
- Your 3's look like 8's.
- How many and's can you put in one sentence?
- My typewriter smudged all the &'s in my letter.
Categories:
Punctuations
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