This photo was taken some years ago in Modica. The bar owner has made several mistakes with the apostrophe. Can you find them?
“Modican’s chocolate” is a mistake. To an English speaker, this means that there is only one Modican in the world and he has all the chocolate! There is no need for an apostrophe here as “Modican” is an adjective.
“Sicilian’s wine” means that there is only one Sicilian in the world and he has all the wine! There is no need for an apostrophe here as “Sicilian” is an adjective.
The bar owner has made similar mistakes with “almond’s pudding” and “almond’s nougat”. “Almond” in these cases is an adjective and does not require an apostrophe.
The possessive apostrophe is used like this:
The girl’s father.
This indicates that the father belongs to the girl.
This indicates that the father belongs to the girl.
The girls’ father.
This indicates that the father belongs to more than one girl.
This indicates that the father belongs to more than one girl.
Mary’s garden is beautiful.
This indicates that there is one garden and it belongs to Mary.
This indicates that there is one garden and it belongs to Mary.
Mary’s flowers are beautiful.
This indicates that there are several flowers and they belong to Mary.
This indicates that there are several flowers and they belong to Mary.
The shop’s lights are pretty.
Here we are talking about one shop and the lights that it has.
Here we are talking about one shop and the lights that it has.
The shops’ lights are pretty this Christmas.
Here we are talking about more than one shop.
Here we are talking about more than one shop.
If a word is a plural that does not end in -s we use the singular apostrophe – 's, eg:
The men’s department
The children’s books
The men’s department
The children’s books
We sometimes use an apostrophe to indicate a shop or a surgery, eg:
The butcher's = the butcher’s shop [the word "shop" is understood].
The doctor's = the doctor’s surgery [the word "surgery" is understood].
The butcher's = the butcher’s shop [the word "shop" is understood].
The doctor's = the doctor’s surgery [the word "surgery" is understood].
Exercise
Add the correct apostrophe form to the words in bold:
Add the correct apostrophe form to the words in bold:
1. My parents cottage is in Wales.
2. She is spending Christmas at her mothers house.
3. The teachers book is on the table.
4. The womens cakes are on sale here.
5. The managers secretary is in her office.
6. The managers Convention is in Chicago this year.
7. We are going to the newsagents.
8. Shakespeares plays are very interesting.
9. My cousins name is John.
10. My cousins names are John and Susan.
11. I am going to the dentists.
12. “An Englishmans home is his castle.”
2. She is spending Christmas at her mothers house.
3. The teachers book is on the table.
4. The womens cakes are on sale here.
5. The managers secretary is in her office.
6. The managers Convention is in Chicago this year.
7. We are going to the newsagents.
8. Shakespeares plays are very interesting.
9. My cousins name is John.
10. My cousins names are John and Susan.
11. I am going to the dentists.
12. “An Englishmans home is his castle.”
Check your answers by highlighting the space below:
1. parents’ 2. mother’s 3. teacher’s 4. women’s 5. manager’s 6. managers’ 7. newsagent’s 8. Shakespeare’s 9. cousin’s 10. cousins’ 11. dentist’s 12. Englishman’s.
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