Taming the Wild Apostrophe ENGLISH FOR CAREERS 9

. Taming the Wild Apostrophe ENGLISH FOR CAREERS, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical by Leila R. Smith Presentation design by Barbara Moran English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

, 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. ). English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith In this presentation. . . © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

(ahem) . . . you will learn about. . . • • The concept of the possessive expression. The three rules forming possessives. (Where do you put that little mark? ) • • Apostrophes in contractions. Miscellaneous uses for apostrophes. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Tell me more about possessive expressions. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

A possessive expression shows a relationship between two nouns: 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. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

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. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

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. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

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). English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

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). English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

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! English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

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. . . English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Singular possessives. 1. To make a singular noun possessive, add ’s. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Singular possessives. Karen’s brother Call me Bob. the boy’s dog roof English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith California’s citizens We are the world. . . © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Plural possessives. 2. To make a plural noun ending in s possessive, add an apostrophe after the s. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Plural possessives. employees’ conference It was your turn to bring donuts, Wendell. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith buildings’ lights friends’ reunion How ya been? So -so. © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Plural possessives. 3. To make a plural noun not ending in s possessive, add ’s. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Plural possessives. Men’s room English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith People’s choice Women’s group © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

…are words that are shortened by removing one or more letters and replacing them with apostrophes. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

I am I’m feeling very old. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

I am I’m feeling very old. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

I’m feeling very old. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

cannot You can’t be serious. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

cannot You can’t be serious. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

can’t You can’t be serious. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

that is That’s the way I feel. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

that is That’s the way I feel. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

that’s That’s the way I feel. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

do not Don’t be so negative. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

do not Don’t be so negative. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

don’t Don’t be so negative. English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

English for Careers, 9 th Edition Business, Professional, and Technical By Leila R. Smith © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458