Education English | Apostrophe (‘) | Langan (2008: 550-551) says that apostrophe is a punctuation mark generally used in order to (1) show the omission of one or more letters in a contraction, and (2) to show ownership or possesion.
1. Apostrophe in Contraction
A apostrophe is formed when two words are combained to make one word. An apostrophe is used to show where letters are omitted in forming the contraction.
Here are two contractions:
Have + not = haven’t (the o in not has been ommitted)
I + will = I’ll (the wi in will has been omitted
Some other common contractions:
I + am = I’m
I + have = I’ve
An unusual contraction:
Will + not =won’t
2. Apostrophe to show ownership or possesion
To show ownership or possesion, we can use such words as belongs to, possessed by, owned by, or (most common) of.
Examples: The umbrella that belong to Mark
The toys possessed by children But the apostrophe and s (if the word does not end in s) is often the quickest and easiest way to show possession. Thus we can say:
• Mark’s umbrella
• Children’s toy
Here are the other uses of apostrophe according to Longan (2008: 553)
1. Apostrophe versus Possesive Pronouns
Do not use an apostrophe with possesive pronouns. They already show
ownership. Possesive pronouns include his, hers, its, yours, ours and theirs.
Incorrect :
The sun warped his’ album
1. Apostrophe in Contraction
A apostrophe is formed when two words are combained to make one word. An apostrophe is used to show where letters are omitted in forming the contraction.
Here are two contractions:
Have + not = haven’t (the o in not has been ommitted)
I + will = I’ll (the wi in will has been omitted
Some other common contractions:
I + am = I’m
I + have = I’ve
An unusual contraction:
Will + not =won’t
2. Apostrophe to show ownership or possesion
To show ownership or possesion, we can use such words as belongs to, possessed by, owned by, or (most common) of.
Examples: The umbrella that belong to Mark
The toys possessed by children But the apostrophe and s (if the word does not end in s) is often the quickest and easiest way to show possession. Thus we can say:
• Mark’s umbrella
• Children’s toy
Here are the other uses of apostrophe according to Longan (2008: 553)
1. Apostrophe versus Possesive Pronouns
Do not use an apostrophe with possesive pronouns. They already show
ownership. Possesive pronouns include his, hers, its, yours, ours and theirs.
Incorrect :
The sun warped his’ album
Correct :
The sun warped his albums
2. Apostrophe versus Simple Plurals
When you want make a word plural, just add an s at the end of the word. Do not add an apostrophe. For example, the plural of the word movie is movies, not movie’s or movies’. Look at this sentence:
Tim coveted his roommate’s collection of cassette tapes and compact discs
The words tapes and discs are simple plurals, meaning more than one tape, more than one disc. The plural is shown by adding s only. On the other hand, the ’s after roommate shows possesion that the roommate owns the tapes and discs.
According to Harvey (2008: 250), apostrophe (‘) is used to denote the omission of one or more letters, or to mark the possesive case.
Examples: You’re overwatched, my lord
Variety’s the very spices of life
Surayin (1999: 513) says that apostrophe is used:
1. to show the contraction of word
example: Don’t go
2. an apostrophe that is followed by s (‘s) is used to form ownership of singular and plural is not ending by s. ‘s is also used to form numeric and plural
example: Mary’s grades were good. She earned 3 A’s and 2 B’s.
3. an apostrophe is used to form ownership of plural even the word already ends in s or es.
examples: She read the students’ compositions
Ladies’ hats are on the fourth floor
4. an apostrophe used with indefinite prounoun one, other, somebody, nobody and etc to show ownership
examples: Here somebody’s book
2. Apostrophe versus Simple Plurals
When you want make a word plural, just add an s at the end of the word. Do not add an apostrophe. For example, the plural of the word movie is movies, not movie’s or movies’. Look at this sentence:
Tim coveted his roommate’s collection of cassette tapes and compact discs
The words tapes and discs are simple plurals, meaning more than one tape, more than one disc. The plural is shown by adding s only. On the other hand, the ’s after roommate shows possesion that the roommate owns the tapes and discs.
According to Harvey (2008: 250), apostrophe (‘) is used to denote the omission of one or more letters, or to mark the possesive case.
Examples: You’re overwatched, my lord
Variety’s the very spices of life
Surayin (1999: 513) says that apostrophe is used:
1. to show the contraction of word
example: Don’t go
2. an apostrophe that is followed by s (‘s) is used to form ownership of singular and plural is not ending by s. ‘s is also used to form numeric and plural
example: Mary’s grades were good. She earned 3 A’s and 2 B’s.
3. an apostrophe is used to form ownership of plural even the word already ends in s or es.
examples: She read the students’ compositions
Ladies’ hats are on the fourth floor
4. an apostrophe used with indefinite prounoun one, other, somebody, nobody and etc to show ownership
examples: Here somebody’s book
Nobody’s lesson was ready
Based on the expert description above, it can be conclude that generally apostrophe used to show the contraction of word, to form ownership of plural, and to show ownership or possesion.
Based on the expert description above, it can be conclude that generally apostrophe used to show the contraction of word, to form ownership of plural, and to show ownership or possesion.
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