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Moleski at 18:51, 11 October 2009

2009-10-11T18:51:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:51, 11 October 2009
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	</pre>		</pre>

	3. Possession by more than one person or thing is indicated by adding an "s" and an apostrophe:		3. '''Possession by more than one person or thing is indicated by adding an "s" and an apostrophe:'''
	<pre>		<pre>
	The hats' labels were all sewn on backwards.		The hats' labels were all sewn on backwards.

Moleski at 03:37, 9 February 2009

2009-02-09T03:37:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:37, 9 February 2009
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	== Plurals, Possessives, and Contractions ==		== Plurals, Possessives, and Contractions ==

	* Plurals are usually formed by adding "s" to words WITHOUT an apostrophe:		'''1. Plurals are usually formed by adding "s" to words WITHOUT an apostrophe:'''
	<pre>		<pre>
	one hat ----> two hats		one hat ----> two hats
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	</pre>		</pre>

	* Possession by one person or thing is usually indicated by adding an apostrophe and an "s":		'''2. Possession by one person or thing is usually indicated by adding an apostrophe and an "s":'''
	<pre>		<pre>
	The hat's brim was bent.		The hat's brim was bent.
	The Hindu's home was new.		The Hindu's home was new.
			</pre>

	* Possession by more than one person or thing is indicated by adding an "s" and an apostrophe:		3. Possession by more than one person or thing is indicated by adding an "s" and an apostrophe:
	<pre>		<pre>
	The hats' labels were all sewn on backwards.		The hats' labels were all sewn on backwards.
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	</pre>		</pre>

	* Contractions use an apostrophe to indicate missing letters:		'''4. Contractions use an apostrophe to indicate missing letters:'''
	<pre>		<pre>
	do not ----> don't		do not ----> don't
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	</pre>		</pre>

	* Distinguish possessives from contractions:		'''5. Distinguish possessives from contractions:'''
	<pre>		<pre>
	its == "belongs to it" "The groundhog saw its shadow."		its == "belongs to it" "The groundhog saw its shadow."

Moleski: New page: == Plurals, Possessives, and Contractions == * Plurals are usually formed by adding "s" to words WITHOUT an apostrophe:

 		one hat ----> two hats		 		1960 ----> 1960s	 		Hindu---->H...

2009-02-09T03:36:17Z

New page: == Plurals, Possessives, and Contractions == * Plurals are usually formed by adding "s" to words WITHOUT an apostrophe: <pre> one hat ----> two hats 1960 ----> 1960s Hindu---->H...

New page

== Plurals, Possessives, and Contractions ==

* Plurals are usually formed by adding "s" to words WITHOUT an apostrophe:
<pre>
one hat ----> two hats
1960 ----> 1960s
Hindu---->Hindus
</pre>

* Possession by one person or thing is usually indicated by adding an apostrophe and an "s":
<pre>
The hat's brim was bent.
The Hindu's home was new.

* Possession by more than one person or thing is indicated by adding an "s" and an apostrophe:
<pre>
The hats' labels were all sewn on backwards.
The Sabres' playoff chances are melting like snow in springtime.
</pre>

* Contractions use an apostrophe to indicate missing letters:
<pre>
do not ----> don't
cannot ----> can't <Please note that cannot is one word, not two!>
is not ----> isn't
</pre>

* Distinguish possessives from contractions:
<pre>
its == "belongs to it" "The groundhog saw its shadow."
it's == "it is" or "it has" "It's cold today. It's been raining, too."

your == "belongs to you" whose == "belongs to who"
you're == "you are" who's == "who is"
</pre>

::"Its" is an exception to first and third rules above. Adding the "s" doesn't turn "it" into a plural; possession, in this case, is NOT indicated by adding an apostrophe and "s"!

::"It's" looks like a possessive because of that stupid apostrophe, but it's a contraction.

::"Its" fits into a normal pattern of possessive pronouns, none of which use the apostrophe: ''his, hers, its, yours, ours, theirs.''

* The ability to apply rules to specific situations, making allowances for exceptions to the rules, is one sign of intelligent life.

::It's is not, it isn't ain't,
:::and it's it's, not its, if you mean it is.
::If you don't, it's its.
::Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.
::It isn't our's either.
::It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.
::::Oxford University Press, ''Edpress News''