Use of apostrophes

[Martin]

Just been taking the apostrophes test a Skillswise <just for fun> http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/word...hes/quiz.shtml

Looking at this.........

5: This sentence is correct: The books' spines were split.
You said: false
This sentence is correct. There is more than one book, so the apostrophe goes after the s - books'.

...... I can't ever remember learning that an apostrophe goes after a word!

[Jules]

I was always taught that it was there to show that it was abbreviated so I am with you on this one Marty

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Martin

Just been taking the apostrophes test a Skillswise <just for fun> http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/word...hes/quiz.shtml

Looking at this.........


...... I can't ever remember learning that an apostrophe goes after a word!
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It does, if the word ends with an 's', as it does in plurals. The book's spine is the spine of one book. The books' spines is the spines of several books. I suppose you could see it as a shorthand for the books's spines, which looks rather awkward.

[marky]

I love tests'

[Martin]

It does, if the word ends with an 's', as it does in plurals. The book's spine is the spine of one book. The books' spines is the spines of several books. I suppose you could see it as a shorthand for the books's spines, which looks rather awkward.

Ah i'm with you! I ussualy remember quirky things in English but i have no recollection. Shame my school shut down!! Hmmmmm
__________________

Originally Posted by marky

I love tests'

9/10 on that test and i did the level C.

[Pø†øƒGøL�]

10/10 I hate seeing badly typed work with apostrophes in the wrong place... one of my bugbears.

[absthechatter]

I was taught at my Grammar school in Kent that if the word is plural and ends in an "s", then the aphostrophe would go after the "s". I was also taught that if something belongs to someone, it would also go after the "s"E.G. Stevens' back, meaning the back belonging to Steven, rather than Steven's back, meaning Steven is back.

At the age of 12, we moved to Brighton and I went to a good old comprehensive school. There I was told that an apostrophe after the s did not mean belongs to and I had been taught a load of rubbish before.

I still do not know which is correct and I'm pushing forty now!!!

[Martin]

LOL I went to a comprehensive so that probably answers that!!

[danielf]

Originally Posted by absthechatter

I was taught at my Grammar school in Kent that if the word is plural and ends in an "s", then the aphostrophe would go after the "s". I was also taught that if something belongs to someone, it would also go after the "s"E.G. Stevens' back, meaning the back belonging to Steven, rather than Steven's back, meaning Steven is back.

At the age of 12, we moved to Brighton and I went to a good old comprehensive school. There I was told that an apostrophe after the s did not mean belongs to and I had been taught a load of rubbish before.

I still do not know which is correct and I'm pushing forty now!!!

As far as I'm concerned your grammar school was correct, but I learned English as a second language

[Chris]

Originally Posted by absthechatter

I was taught at my Grammar school in Kent that if the word is plural and ends in an "s", then the aphostrophe would go after the "s". I was also taught that if something belongs to someone, it would also go after the "s"E.G. Stevens' back, meaning the back belonging to Steven, rather than Steven's back, meaning Steven is back.

At the age of 12, we moved to Brighton and I went to a good old comprehensive school. There I was told that an apostrophe after the s did not mean belongs to and I had been taught a load of rubbish before.

I still do not know which is correct and I'm pushing forty now!!!

An apostrophe and an 's' is used to denote 'belongs to' (posessive), so "That is Steve's book" means the same thing as "That book belongs to Steve". However, where the object of the sentence is spelled with an 's' at the end - say, for example, 'James' - you put the apostrophe after the final 's', and do not put another 's' on the end of the word. So, "That is James' book" means the same thing as "That book belongs to James".

You can also use an 's' at the end of a word to denote plurality, as in the example in the original post. In this case, the same rules apply. If you are talking about one book having a bent spine, you write "The book's spine is bent" but if there are many books with bent spines, you write "The books' spines are bent".

So, your Grammar School was right, and your comprehensive school neatly demonstrates what's wrong with the British education system.

NB in the sentence above, "what's" is a contraction of "what is", not a posessive!

[Nugget]

So what does Banks's Beer denote? That one's always confused me

[smicer07]

10/10 on the highest one. Easy peasy.

[Martin]

Originally Posted by Nugget

So what does Banks's Beer denote? That one's always confused me

Just what i'm in need of!!!

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Nugget

So what does Banks's Beer denote? That one's always confused me

That denotes a company that either doesn't understand grammar, or has deliberately misconstructed its brand name because it thinks the general public doesn't.

Incidentally, as demonstrated in the above sentence, the word "its" as a posessive is the exception to the rule. It does not have an apostrophe even though technically it should. If you write "it's", that means "it is".
__________________

Originally Posted by smicer07

10/10 on the highest one. Easy peasy.

I should hope so to, Mr teacher sir!

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Chris T

That denotes a company that either doesn't understand grammar, or has deliberately misconstructed its brand name because it thinks the general public doesn't.

Probably the company. It is brewed by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries - I was born in Wolverhampton (to my eternal shame ) and even I think they're all thick