Quote:
Originally Posted by lene1949
Apostrophes have me extremely confused, as they're not really used in my native language. 'My daughter's husband', I believe, have and apostrophe in English, but not when translated to Danish. I guess, I'll never work it out...  |
Apostrophes are very easy, actually (much easier than commas!).
Use them in contractions, when you have taken away one or more letters after combining words. you are becomes you're (the a was taken away). (I know you know that one down pat)
Use them when making a noun (proper or common or plural nouns) possessive. You do not use them with possessive pronouns. So it's "his books, Joe's books, the boy's books, the children's books."
NEVER use them when pluralizing a word (biggest mistake)! Ugh, hate that. It's not "I saw some dog's"-- because then you have to ask "some dog's... what? some dog's ....bowl?"
Other big mistake- using an apostrophe in "its" when it's possessive. So you say "it's a nice day" but you say "the dog sat by its bowl." For its, if you can't substitute "it is" in there, do NOT use an apostrophe.
There are a few more distinctions, but if you know those rules, you are better off than half the people I communicate with via writing.... (and several of the books and signs I read!)
(Hawaiian doesn't use apostrophes either. Well, it uses a similar symbol, but that symbol is a letter and doesn't operate like an apostrophe in English. Possessives are done differently, with a "marker" word. So Kimo's book becomes "ka Kimo puke" the ka here is the possessive. Or Kimo's house is "ko Kimo hale" where the ko is the possessive. It is tricky to learn new rules when the ones you are so used to are so different!)