Compound possession grammar girl quick and dirty tips. However, it is also correct to just add the apostrophe. If the noun is plural, or already ends in s, just add an apostrophe after the s. In a sentence, it is used as a replacement for their and the object of possession, a noun. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing book.
Explanations and interactive exercises on grammar parts of speech and sentence structure nouns possessive s genitive. Apostrophe rules can be broken into four main categories. The only difference is that the plural of woman doesnt end in an s. It is possible that in the end the english possessive apostrophe which at one time also. We can use two possessive s constructions in the same noun phrase. Some irregular plurals that dont end in s get an apostrophe s whether attributive or possessive. Explanations and interactive exercises on grammar parts of speech and sentence structure nouns possessive sgenitive. For example, the books owned by the boy becomes the boys books, with boys being the singular possessive noun.
Maybe you know to write i met the smiths, i drove brenda smiths ferrari, and i visited the smiths house. The possessive form of the singular noun girl is girls. The great lee chamberlin performs another vaudevillestyle song and dance number written by joe raposo. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing is an educational podcast produced by mignon fogarty that was launched in july 2006 and the title of a print book by fogarty that was released in july 2008. To show the plural of a name that ends with a ch, s, or z sound, add es. Fowler s a dictionary of modern english usage or karen elizabeth gordon s the transitive vampire or both, really. We usually use possessive s when we are talking about living things, such as people, groups of people, and animals. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice.
You might also hear, the car s top speed in advertising, because they like to humanise things. Oct 29, 2016 when it comes to expressing possession, pronouns do not use the s form. The possessive form of the plural noun girls is girls. I love many of ms chances books some i could do without because they have the tropes i love. Written with the wit, warmth, and accessibility that the podcasts are known for, grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing covers the grammar rules and wordchoice guidelines that can confound even the best writers. Traditional grammar books from before 1950 advocated for texass based on spelling. Read on to discover all the apostrophe rules youll ever need to know. The possessive s is always added to the pronoun directly. Despite the name, possessives arent just for possession. As a spanish term, the citys name is a singular noun, plural in form, but if we consider it fully anglicized, does it then count as a regular singular. Examples include the ducks quack, the girls doll, and the mans son.
The possessive form in english is formed by adding s at the end of a noun, unless it is a plural noun, in which case we write just an apostrophe, e. Cindy from our journey westward shares a great list of picture books you can use in teaching grammar. Grammatical case is a feature of a noun that shows the nouns. With a few exceptions, the following two rules cover nearly all you need to know about forming possessives. However, this is always incorrect theirs is the only correct spelling. Picture books to teach grammar our journey westward. The boys books boys sounds like boys for singular nouns that end in s, the possessive is formed by adding s, just as with.
If a singular word ends in s, it is still necessary to add s. She is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame, and the show is a fivetime winner of best education podcast in the podcast awards. Some of the indefinite pronouns form their possessives with a possessive ending. Showing possession through nouns learning english grammar. Great big list of living books links charlotte mason monday just another wordpress site says. With nouns, how you write a compound possessive depends on whether things are shared. In a sentence such as the teacher preferred the girl s work to the boys. What is the correct possessive for nouns ending in. Mignon fogarty born 1967 is a former faculty member in journalism at the university of nevada, reno, and a former science writer who produces an educational podcast about english grammar and usage titled grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing, which was named one of the best podcasts of 2007 by itunes. Learn how to make plural words possessive, how to make words that end in s plural, and what to do about abbreviations. Possession johns car, a friend of mine english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary.
Second, its without an apostrophe is the possessive form. The possessive form can sound strange if you use it to talk about things that arent alive inanimate objects. If you have added an s to make a word plural for example, cat. Apostrophes with names ending in s, ch, or z grammar and. So apostrophes for the possessive case was initially meant to show that the e was. When writing the possessive form of almost all other singular nouns, the writer is instructed to add an apostrophe followed by an s at the end of the word. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. This book is for practicing adding possessive s to nouns girls, boys, etc.
When a singular noun shows ownership or possession of another noun, it is called a singular possessive noun. Readers answer comprehension questions in the text as they follow natalia s quest to own everything she loves. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by mignon. If a name ends in ch, but is pronounced with a hard k sound, its. She is also the founder of the quick and dirty tips podcasting network. This lessons task is to help you learn about possessives and contractions that need apostrophes and plurals that dont. While reading, kids learn where apostrophes are placed in singular and plural possessive nouns. Need help submitting your writing to literary journals or book publishersliterary agents. In july 2008, holt released fogartys first paperback book, grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Natalia claims ownership of items with a single stroke of her magic marker in this silly story. Theirs is a possessive pronoun in third person plural. Well, all i can suggest is making some small changes to the online book in the places where applicable.
With the addition of s or sometimes just the apostrophe, a noun can change from a simple person, place, or thing to a person, place, or thing that owns something. Theoretically, an inanimate object or abstract idea cannot possess anything, but writers routinely use possessive endings with inanimate objects, as in the rockets red glare. Possessive case is shown by adding an apostrophe and the letter s to the end of the possessive noun. Showing possession with words ending in s march 28, 2016 march 28, 2016 lisa j. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by. The possessive form of the singular noun girl is girl s. For nouns that are plural such as boys, the possessive is formed in writing by adding an apostrophe after the plural s. Aardvarks and mothers are both in the possessive case.
Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing. The idea that theirs needs an apostrophe comes out of the fact that on virtually every other word, s indicates possession, so english speakers sometimes think theirs should be spelled theirs. You should still use the of form of the possessive genitive case when talking about things that belong to other things. Possessive nouns english grammar lesson the basics what will i learn from the english grammar lesson possessive nouns. Possessive comes from the same root as possession, something you own. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. If the name ends in s, like charles, we usually treat it like a singular noun and add s. Want to know when to use the apostrophe and when to skip it. Fowlers a dictionary of modern english usage or karen elizabeth gordons the transitive vampire or both, really.
Mar 16, 2008 wondering when a noun should use s, s, s, or es to show possession. During this basic grammar lesson you will learn what possessive nouns are and how to use them in sentences. Learn how to make plural words possessive, how to make words that end in s plural, and. The singers talent is apparent after seeing her show. Showing possession through nouns easy learning grammar possession can be shown in two ways. The possessive form is used with nouns referring to people, groups of people, countries, and animals. Are you confused about how to show the plural and the possessive of certain names. This book rates as two stars or four, depending on who you are. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing wikipedia. She was on the show to answer a viewers question about the use of possessive apostrophes. The english apostrophe s and s apostrophe cause a lot of problems, even for native speakers. The possessive form of a noun or pronoun is used to show ownership. A dog is a living creature, so we can use the possessive.
Readers answer comprehension questions in the text as they follow natalias quest to own everything she loves. The older name for possessives was the genititve case, and in many ways, that was more meaningful. Grammatical case is a feature of a noun that shows the nouns function in a phrase. Mignon fogarty born 1967 is a former faculty member in journalism at the university of nevada, reno, and a former science writer who produces an educational podcast about english grammar and usage titled grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing, which was named one of the best podcasts of 2007 by itunes. Possession johns car, a friend of mine english grammar.
I know that childrens books is correct, but for some reason i want to say kids books, even though i know that its a plural possessive noun ending in an s. You might also hear, the cars top speed in advertising, because they like to humanise things. This book is for practicing adding possessive s to nouns girl s, boy s, etc. But what if the name is sanchez or church or williams. We also use possessive s to talk about time and duration. Grammar girl, is determined to wipe out bad grammarbut shes also. Aug 12, 2019 get grammar girls take on apostrophe catastrophe. There are a few different ways to form the possessive of a noun. This is pronounced the same as the plural and the singular possessive. If youre an expert english grammarian, mignon fogartys grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing isnt for you. Singular common nouns ending in s also define a possessive relationship by adding s to the end of the word.
Theyre not leatherbound containers for your grammar books and dictionaries. Is the possessive form of texas written as texass or texas. Mignon fogarty born 1967 is a former faculty member in journalism at the university of. Actual ambiguity is rare it almost always involves singular vs plural possessive, as in the girl s books vs the girls books and most such cases are easily resolved in practice. Common or generic nouns can be broken down into three subtypes. Do you also need t our an apostrophe in the word boys as in boys, if it is at the. Mar 29, 2012 and unlike the other cases, the possessive case still exists not only for pronouns, but for almost every noun, including proper nouns and common nouns. The electric company good old apostrophe s youtube.
It shows a relationship of belonging between one thing and another. They usually argued words that end spelled with the letter would take the s genitive. She was on the show to answer a viewer question about the use of possessive apostrophes. This rules out each others, as the possessive apostrophe must be there. Theres no annoying thirdparty, the h and h arent hung up with their exes, its almost always love at first sight for both, and they are both faithful. The s possessive is generally used only with nouns referring to animate items. If youre an expert english grammarian, mignon fogarty s grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing isnt for you. To form the possessive of a singular noun that does not end in s or an s sound, add an. Actual ambiguity is rare it almost always involves singular vs plural possessive, as in the girls books vs the girls books and most such cases are easily resolved in practice. When a singular proper noun ends in s, add an apostrophe to the end of the word and leave off. Is the possessive form of texas written as texass or. Jan 01, 2008 this book rates as two stars or four, depending on who you are.