Taming the Wild Apostrophe

1. . Taming the Wild Apostrophe ENGLISH FOR CAREERS, 9th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical by Leila R. Smith Presentation design by Barbara Moran

2. , What is it for? The apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to indicate possessives (The boy’s hat... and contractions ...isn’t on his head.). In this presentation...

3. (ahem) ...you will learn about... • The concept of the possessive expression. • The three rules for forming possessives. (Where do you putthat little mark?) • Apostrophes in contractions. • Miscellaneous uses for apostrophes.

4. Tell me more aboutpossessive expressions.

5. She sailed to Bermuda on her boyfriend’s yacht. The senator’s wife is a well-known gossip. I’ve been waiting for hours in the dentist’s office. Next month you’ll be eligible for two weeks’ vacation. A possessive expression shows a relationship between two nouns:

6. The possessive expression can be rephrased using the word OF; for example, the wife of the senator, the office of my dentist. But the possessive is usually smoother and more concise.

7. OK, fine--but where do you put that little mark? The placement of the apostrophe depends on whether the first noun, the possessor, is singular or plural.

8. The possessors in these sentences…She broke the teacher’s nose.I hate my brother’s friends.You can’t solve this city’s problems.…are all singular (one teacher, one brother, one city).

9. The possessors in these sentences... Wait for me in the teachers’ lounge. Cohn & Cohn, Inc., is the name of my brothers’ company. The judge made a dramatic speech on states’ rights. …are all plural (several teachers, two brothers, fifty states).

10. Remember: whether the possessive is singular or plural depends on the first of the two nouns--the possessor; not on the second noun-- the possessed!

11. Before you place the apostrophe, ask yourself: • Is the possessor singular or plural? • If the possessor is plural, does it end in S? ...then apply one of these three rules...

12. 1. To make a singular noun possessive, add ’s. Singular possessives.

13. Karen’s brother the boy’s dog California’s citizens Call me Bob. We are the world... roof Singular possessives.

14. Plural possessives. 2. To make a plural noun ending in s possessive, add an apostrophe after the s.

15. employees’ conference buildings’ lights friends’ reunion How ya been? It was your turn to bring donuts, Wendell. So -so. Plural possessives.

16. Plural possessives. 3. To make a plural noun not ending in s possessive, add ’s.

17. Plural possessives. Men’s room People’s choice Women’sgroup

19. CONTRACTIONS

20. CONTRACTIONS …are words that are shortened by removing one or more letters and replacing them with apostrophes.

21. I’m feeling very old. I am

22. I’m feeling very old. I am

23. I’m feeling very old. I’m

24. cannot You can’t be serious.

25. cannot You can’t be serious.

26. can’t You can’t be serious.

27. That’s the way I feel. that is

28. That’s the way I feel. that is

29. That’s the way I feel. that’s

30. do not Don’t be so negative.

31. do not Don’t be so negative.

32. don’t Don’t be so negative.