Get Ahead in English
  • Home
  • About me
  • What I offer
  • Prices
  • Recommendations
  • Contact
  • Blog

Apostrophes 

13/11/2015

0 Comments

 
In this post I'm going to explain when to use apostrophes, as a lot of my students have asked me about this.
 
Apostrophes can be used for possession.
 
If the noun is singular, the apostrophe is before the letter "s":
- David's car is blue.
- Rachel's brother is older than her.
- The school's facilities are brand new.

 
If the noun is plural, the apostrophe goes after the letter "s":
- The girls' room is upstairs. (There are 2 or more girls)
- My friends' flat is in the city centre. (2 of more of my friends live in the flat)
- My parents' garden is beautiful. (2 parents)
 
If the plural of the noun doesn't end in "s", the apostrophe goes before it:
- The children's toys are on the floor.
- The men's toilets are downstairs.
- Women's (ladies') clothes are sold here.

 
We also use apostrophes in contractions to show a missing letter:
- I don't like it.
- She's interested in history.
- He's been to London twice.


Remember that she's/he's can mean she/he has or she/he is, depending on the rest of the sentence. Likewise, the 'd contraction can be would or had.
 
Be careful with it's and its!
 
It's = it is. For example, it's a good idea to read the news in English to improve your vocabulary.
Its = possessive form of "it". For example, the company sources its products locally.

Any questions? Post them in the comments section below!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Julia Phang, English teacher, Get Ahead in English, Manchester.

    Archives

    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed