Apostrophes
Uses:(用法)
We can use an apostrophe (') to:
1. show possession, show that something belongs or is owned by someone. Someone's high test score Your friend's name
2. show a contraction show where a letter has been missed out when words are shortened He'll know it was me (He will) If she doesn't report him (does not)
Possession:(所有格)
If it's a singular noun, the apostrophe goes before the 's'. It doesn't matter if thing or person owned is singular or plural The boy's shirt = one owner, the boy The doctor's patients = one owner, one doctor
If it's a plural noun, the apostrophe goes after the 's' The boys' shirts = more than one boy or owner The doctors' patients = more than one doctor or owner
If it's an irregular plural noun, the apostrophe goes before the 's' The men's newspapers The mice's footprints
If a noun ends in an 's', we usually put the apostrophe + s after the first 's' James's house Dennis's friends
Although this rule is flexible and nowadays you might see: James' house Dennis' friends
Another exception to this rule is with literary or classical references: Dickens' novels Socrates' writings
If the context is clear, we don't always have to mention the thing that's owned: Is that my pen or Paul's? = Paul's pen That top is my sister's = my sister's top
We don't use an apostrophe to show possession with these determiners: mine - That's mine yours - I've got my money, have you got yours? his - Those shoes are his hers - That bike is hers its - My dog isn't well, its temperature is very high ours - That house is his and that one is ours theirs - Don't touch those cakes, they're theirs and they don't like to share
Contraction:(缩写)
The apostrophe is used to show where a letter or letters have been left out: She hasn't replied to my letter = has not He's my brother = is
We can make contractions with:
1. nouns and pronouns She's a teacher There's nobody here
2. auxiliary verbs (would, could, will, should) as well as sometimes with be and havewhen they aren't being used as auxiliary verbs: They would've come if you'd invited them = would have/you had I haven't got any money = have not
We can't use double contractions in English: 'She'sn't from France' is wrong. Instead we'd say 'She isn't from France' or 'She's not from France'
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