Apostrophes?

[Aero]

Basically I'm 20 years old and in my final year of university and today in a lecture our "new" lecturer stated that as most peoples english grammar is terrible, mine is dire. (I'm doing a Civil engineering degree so pretty much all maths no writing.) He would like to point out the correct use for apostrophes as he is sure that lots of us will have marks deducted for this. Now I'm struggling to understand this as today was the first I have ever been taught the they can go at the end of a word after the letters. If anyone can help me comprehend this it would be a great help,

i.e. In what situation does it go,

contractors
contractor's
contractors'

Cheers

Aero

 

[Lopéz]

c'ontractors

 

[Samione]

Basically I'm 20 years old and in my final year of university and today in a lecture our "new" lecturer stated that as most peoples english grammar is terrible, mine is dire. (I'm doing a Civil engineering degree so pretty much all maths no writing.) He would like to point out the correct use for apostrophes as he is sure that lots of us will have marks deducted for this. Now I'm struggling to understand this as today was the first I have ever been taught the they can go at the end of a word after the letters. If anyone can help me comprehend this it would be a great help,

i.e. In what situation does it go,

contractors
contractor's
contractors'

Cheers

Aero

"The contractors are coming"
"The contractor's an idiot"
"It's the contractors' not mine"

edit- I am an idiot.

 

[Nitro_Junkie]

if it is referring to more than one contractor - contractors
if it is something that belongs to a contractor - contractor's

 

[Aero]

if it is referring to more than one contractor - contractors
if it is something that belongs to a contractor - contractor's

Ok I understand that but the third one is the one that really gets me! I know most of my mates are just going to try and avoid using them at all. lol

Aero

 

[DalGurak]

The apostrophe can indicate possession:

In the singular:
The contractor's boots were dirty.

Plural:
The contractors' boots were dirty. (i.e More than one contrators' boots )


Or stand in the place of a letter(s):

You're - You are.

 

[Lydzor]

contractor's and contractors' can both be used for "ownership" but contractor's can obviously also mean "contractor is" so it might be best to use contractors' in some situations.

 

[Aero]

Ok I think I get it ok here goes

The contractors are from poland.
They're the contractor's huts. (refering to one contractors set of huts)
They're the contractors' huts. (refering to many different contractors huts

 

[Dave M]

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html

The apostrophe at the end of the word is the possesive just like "terry's mouse", I suppose you could say it's "contractors's" but you'd sound like golem

 

[psyr33n]

I have no idea how a 14 year old cannot understand such basic English, let alone a 20 year old. I'm genuinely interested as to how you cannot know this...?

 

[DanMc07]

I have no idea how a 14 year old cannot understand such basic English, let alone a 20 year old. I'm genuinely interested as to how you cannot know this...?

Now now theres no need to be like that :O

 

[Nix]

Just remember that apostrophes are only used to indicate possession or an absence. Always avoid the "grocer's apostrophe"

When using plural acronymns such as "NGOs" or "LEDCs", there is no need for an apostrophe unless it indicates what was said above.

 

[Moredhel]

c'ntractors

 

[sniffy]

I have no idea how a 14 year old cannot understand such basic English, let alone a 20 year old. I'm genuinely interested as to how you cannot know this...?

Because English lessons at school consist of reading Romeo and Juliet, not learning how to write correctly. At least he's bloody trying!

 

[PurpleDinosaur]

A better way of understanding the third example may be to use a name or something.

e.g. Lewis' shoes are dirty.

So it's basically instead of writing Lewises/Lewis's which are both incorrect.

 

[Megahurtz400]

Now, this may not be 100% correct, but this is how i would use the thrid one:

"James' bag is silly"
"Jess' said blah!"
"Its the republicans'"

Random examples i just though up, but i beleive the thrid one is used at the end of words that end in S to show possesion.

Do remember im not sure if thats right, and its late, just thought id try

Because English lessons at school consist of reading Romeo and Juliet, not learning how to write correctly. At least he's bloody trying!

Dont get me started on that bloody book!

Learning how to annotate poetry seems a bit of a waste of time as well

Dan

 

[PurpleDinosaur]

Now, this may not be 100% correct, but this is how i would use the thrid one:

"James' bag is silly"
"Jess' said blah!"
"Its the republicans'"

First one is correct, second one isn't, third one doesn't even have an apostrophe.

 

[chiggz]

contractors - more than one
contractor's - something belonging to a single contractor (his/her)
contractors' - something belonging to a group of contractors (their)

edit: if there's already an s ending the word, you dont end with another s when something belongs to that person.. i.e. post #15

 

[Wej]

Now, this may not be 100% correct, but this is how i would use the thrid one:

"James' bag is silly"
"Jess' said blah!"
"Its the republicans'"

You're right, it's not 100% correct, it's 1/3 correct

 

[helmet]

Going by your title I see room for improvement:

? is a question mark.
' is an apostrophe.