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The Apostrophe

The Apostrophe. That Annoying L ittle M ark of Punctuation That Causes So Much Fuss and Makes People Want to Stop Writing and Jump Off a Ledge Because Nobody Knows How to Use it Correctly Even Though It Is as Clear As Day. What is it?.

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The Apostrophe

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  1. The Apostrophe That Annoying Little Mark of Punctuation That Causes So Much Fuss and Makes People Want to Stop Writing and Jump Off a Ledge Because Nobody Knows How to Use it Correctly Even Though It Is as Clear As Day.

  2. What is it? • The “flying comma” used in two important grammatical structures 1) To show contractions 2) To show possession (ownership) in nouns.

  3. Why does it matter? • Apostrophes provide clarification of both contractions and possessive situations. • Without them, possessive situations can be exceptionally confusing to the reader.

  4. How do I use it? • Watch on…

  5. 1) To Make Contractions • Did not = didn’t • Cannot = can’t • Would not = wouldn’t • Am not = ain’t • While logical, this breaks the rules of Standard Formal English • Girl is = Girl’s • The girl’s (girl is) going to win that race.

  6. 2) To Make Nouns Possessive • Singular noun that own something • The boy’s hat • One boy owns a hat • The Tour de France’s winner • One winner of the Tour de France

  7. Singular Possessive • Take the singular noun and add an ‘s

  8. Exception!! • It’s vs its • If a singular item is an IT, to make it possessive, we write ….. • Its • The rule seems to imply that you write IT’S (since ONE it owns something and it is singular) • This is incorrect!

  9. Possessive Plural Nouns • Make the noun plural and then add one of two constructions: • If the plural form ends in an s = add just the ‘ • Boys’ hats • Girls’ pants • If the plural does NOT end in an s = add the ‘s a) children’s books b) women’s flowers

  10. Time or Quantity • While not truly “possessive,” it might help to think about it in this manner: 1) Two weeks’ time • I will give you my project within two weeks’ time • (As if the weeks own the time) 2) Give me four yards’ worth of fabric. • The yards “own” the fabric.

  11. Special Cases • Brother-in-law owns a dog • Brother-in-law’s dog • MANY brothers-in-law have dogs • Brothers-in-law’s dog

  12. More Special Cases • One car owned by two people • Tom and Jean’s car • Two cars owned by two different people • Tom’s and Jean’s cars

  13. Never…Never…Never… NEVER use the apostrophe to make a word plural!! That is the most incorrect usage of the apostrophe. This error is the most glaring mistake a writer can make. It shows a great immaturity by a writer.

  14. What do these Structures Mean? • Giant Kid’s Playground • Pant’s altered • Next week: Nouns and Apostrophe’s (BBC’s website advertising a grammar site for children!) • Pupil’s Entrance • Adult Learner’s Week • Bobs’ Motors

  15. More! • Mens Toilets • Citizens Advice Bureau • Cyclist’s Only

  16. More Silliness.. • People knew they needed an apostrophe, but didn’t know where! • Ladie’s hairdresser • Mens coat’s • Childrens’ education (In a letter from the head of education at the National Union of Teachers) 4) Freds’ Restaurant

  17. Plain Illiteracy… • Hot Dogs: A Meal in Its’ Self • Recruitment at it’s best • ….to welcome you to the British Library, it’s services and catalogs • Your 21 today! (On a birthday card)

  18. A Note from Our Sponsor “It would be nice if one day the number of apostrophes properly placed in it’s equaled exactly the number of apostrophes properly omitted from its, instead of the other way around. In the meantime, what can be done by those of us sickened by the state of apostrophe abuse? First, we must refute the label “dinosaurs” (I really hate that). And second, we must take up arms. Here are the weapons required in the apostrophe wars (stop when you feel uncomfortable):

  19. Correction fluid • Big pens • Stickers cut in a variety of sizes (for sticking over unwanted apostrophes) • Pail of paint with big brush • Guerilla-style clothing • Strong medication for personality disorder • Bullhorn • Gun” -Lynn Truss, Eats, Shoots and Leaves

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