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How to Use Apostrophes Properly

Hello everyone and welcome back to English with Lucy.

Today after all of your requests I’m doing a grammar video and I wanted to talk to you about something that even I an English teacher struggle with. Sometimes it’s something I have to use every single day. It is punctuation and I have always really struggled with apostrophes and when and when not to use them apostrophes. Follow loads of rules and I see them misused all of the time. I know that sometimes I might misuse them as well.

But, I think today we should just clarify all of our doubts and use apostrophes properly. Once and for all I really do think this video is going to help anybody who needs to write frequently. Anyone who’s going to take an English exam like the IELTS or the FCE or even the CAE.

Anyone who needs to write emails frequently even text messages. If you want to use correct grammar throughout text messages school essays native speakers and non-native speakers whether they already speak English or you’re learning English. this video is for absolutely everybody as always I love learning about your languages and your grammar as well so do comment down below and tell me if you use apostrophes in your language and if you use them in the same way that we do in English.

So how’s this lesson going to be structured well first I’m going to be talking about the possessive case the genitive case where apostrophes show possession or a relationship between two things. I’m then, going to show you how apostrophes are used in verb pronoun and some noun contractions and then finally I’ll show you some extra miscellaneous contractions. Using apostrophes as well. Let’s get started. So, Let’s talk about the possessive case normally it uses apostrophe, s, but, there are some exceptions this shows, possession a relationship between two things normally with one thing belonging to the other. For example the ball of the dog the dog’s ball. So, how do we use them with singular nouns well we just add apostrophe, s, for example, Lucy’s car is orange or I ate dinner at Will’s house.

But, what happens if those singular nouns end in, s , now this is a little bit of a cause for dispute in the English grammar world but the most accepted form is to add apostrophe, s, as well now this is disputed and some people will argue that we should just add the apostrophe, whatever you choose to do make it consistent. Choose one of those rules and be consistent with it. so, at least it looks like you know, what you’re doing.

So, I personally like to stick with the apostrophe, s, because I think it’s the most traditional. For example, the actresses role was difficult or Jess’s dog is called Mable. now, with the other rule where they just put the apostrophe and they don’t put the S you will still treat it in spoken English, as if you had that, s, there so you will still say Jess’s dog is called Mable and the actresses role was difficult. Even though the S is not there it’s complicated.

So, what about plural nouns well regular plural nouns, usually end in s and for these two show possession you just need to add an apostrophe to the end of them. For example, my grandparents house is cozy or my friends party was amazing. Now this is why English is a little bit difficult.

Because if I say these two sentences my friends party was amazing or my friends party was amazing the first one is just referring to one friend and the second one is referring to two friends. the apostrophe has changed place. but, it sounds the same in spoken English that’s why you need to add a bit of context in the words of Coldplay. nobody said it was easy.

But, what about those plural nouns that don’t end in s. for example, children well liked the singular nouns. We just add apostrophe, s, so the children’s clothing is to your left or the women’s party is starting .Now, these examples are less complicated. because the plural and singular version of those nouns sound different on their own. but if you had a noun like sheep you have one sheep.

Two sheep. well it gets a bit more complicated. because as we explained in the last example it sounds the same. okay, so we’ve cleared up where to use apostrophe and where to use apostrophe, s, and the general consensus is add apostrophe, s, to everything apart from regular plural nouns, that end in s. And for those we just add the apostrophe one important thing to note is that sometimes that second noun isn’t necessary you don’t have to repeat yourself.

For example my house is smaller than my parents house. I could just say my house is smaller than my parents. The meaning is clear I’m not trying to say that my house is smaller in size that my parents are in size. I’m trying to say that my house is smaller. my parents house which is bigger. The meaning is more or less clear so we don’t have to repeat ourselves. with that second house now what happens if one object has more than one owner. what if Ali and I were to buy a cat together? Would it be Lucy’s and Ali’s cat? or Lucy and Ali’s cat? well if we are both the owner it would be Lucy and Ali’s cat because the last person in the list takes the possessive form. however, If they are similar items that are owned individually say I have a cat and Ali has a cat.

It would be Lucy’s and Ali’s cats I have cats. Ali has cats Lucy’s and Ali’s cats. Okay, so that section on the possessive case should now be clear if it’s still not clear. You can re-watch the section and then go on to comment any doubts you have in the comments below and I will try and help. but I also really encourage you to help out each other as well now let’s talk about apostrophes with verb contractions. I have got five of the most common situations in which verb contractions are used with apostrophes. So, an apostrophe in a verb contraction basically shows missing letters. For example, I am, I’m that apostrophe is showing that missing. a and the space it also gives you an indication on pronunciation. example number one, verbs plus not for example. Do not don’t cannot can’t could no,t couldn’t should.

Not shouldn’t. the second example pronouns and will I will I’ll. She will. she’ll. they will. Vale the third one. and this one can be slightly more complicated pronouns and nouns with to be. For example, I am I’m you are your will is wills so if you look at wills on its own it could be showing the possessive case or it could be showing a contraction of the verb to be wills watching television it is wills television.

One of them is will plus to be and the other one is showing that the television is the television of will. It is wills television. one thing to note is with who, who’s with the apostrophe is who is, who, plus to be, who’s there, who’s spelt WH, o, s, e, is the possessive form whose bag is this. It’s very important to remember. That especially when you’re writing in exams. it’s an incredibly common mistake.

Especially amongst native speakers I have absolutely made the mistake in the past. But I’m really going to try and not make the mistake in the future. number four is pronouns, plus the verb to have, I have, I’ve, she has, she’s, so she’s could be, she is or she has you, have to look at the context note though it would not be confused with the possessive. because, the possessive would be hers. the last one.

Number five pronouns plus wood or hat. for example, I had I’d now we would use this in situations like I’d better go. I had better go, we wouldn’t say I’d a dog when I was 12. I had a dog when I was 12. And then with would I would do that I do that in everyday conversation. the apostrophe, D can be used with nouns like Oh Mahmoud love that mum. would love that. Or Sophia eat that. Sophie would eat that. so those are the five most common contractions now. Just like to quickly cover three others. That are not so common.

But still really important and you will definitely come across them so the first situation is when we talk about years. but we drop a couple of the numbers. For example the summer of 69. we know that we’re talking about 1969. But we might just want to say 69. it’s more common to use this when describing the 1900s. The next situation is where we drop the words of.

For example, two o’clock originally it was of or in the surname Donovan. It would have likely been of Donovan originally the last situation is to show pronunciation in dialogue for example come on could be changed to come on and we’d use an apostrophe in that to give guidance on how to pronounce it. Come on is different. to come on isn’t it right guys that is it for my grammar lesson on apostrophes I really hope you found it useful I learnt a great deal putting it together.