When should I use commas around an appositive?
LINK Rule: When an appositive is essential to the meaning of the noun it belongs to, don’t use commas. When the noun preceding the appositive provides sufficient identification on its own, use commas around the appositive. Example: My friend Harvey is an animal lover.
How do you use possessive nouns in English grammar?
Possessives in English Grammar. There are at least thirteen rules that govern the use of possessives within the English language. Many of the rules are listed below. Rule Number 1- Use an Apostrophe to Show Possession. An apostrophe is almost always used with a singular noun in order to indicate possession of an item or items by an individual.
Where do you put commas in a sentence?
Seven Places Where You SHOULD Use Commas Rule #1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a List Rule #2: Use a Comma After an Introductory Word or Phrase Rule #3: Use a Comma Before a Quotation Rule #4: Use a Comma to Separate a Dependent Clause That Comes BEFORE the Independent Clause Rule #5: Use a Comma to Join Two Long Independent Clauses
How do you use possessive case in a sentence?
In the sentence above, we are talking about several students who all share the same favorite subject. If you have a compound noun (for example, when you’re talking about two people who jointly own one thing), change only the last noun to the possessive. The examples below illustrate this usage of the possessive case.
Is it Chris's or Chris?
Which is correct, Chris's chair or Chris' chair? James's car or James' car? Actually, both ways are correct. If a proper name ends with an s, you can add just the apostrophe or an apostrophe and an s.
What is the possessive apostrophe rule?
The general rule for forming possessives The possessive of a plural noun is formed by adding only an apostrophe when the noun ends in s, and by adding both an apostrophe and s when it ends in a letter other than s.
What are the 3 rules for apostrophes?
The apostrophe has three uses: 1) to form possessive nouns; 2) to show the omission of letters; and 3) to indicate plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use apostrophes to form possessive pronouns (i.e. his/her computer) or noun plurals that are not possessives.
How do you punctuate possessive names?
To form the possessive of a name ending in s (like Chris, James, Charles, or Harris), add either an apostrophe and s or just the apostrophe. ... As with most possessives, you can add an apostrophe and an additional s to names that end in a silent, unpronounced s.More items...•
What are the 5 examples of apostrophe?
A few apostrophe examples below:I am – I'm: “I'm planning to write a book someday.”You are – You're: “You're going to have a lot of fun with your new puppy.”She is – She's: “She's always on time.”It is – It's: “I can't believe it's snowing again.”Do not – Don't: “I don't like anchovies.”More items...
Is it Thomas's or Thomas?
Both Thomas's or Thomas' are correct. There are several different style guides for writing the English language. When you follow the rules of The Associated Press Stylebook, Thomas' is correct. With all other style guides, Thomas's is correct.
Where do I put the apostrophe?
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to create a contraction or to show possession.Use an apostrophe when two words are shortened into one. ... Use an apostrophe when showing possession. ... Do not create a double or triple “s” when adding an apostrophe. ... Do not use an apostrophe with pronouns to show possession.More items...
What are the 2 types of apostrophes?
There are two different kinds of apostrophes: smart and straight. To use them correctly, it helps to know how they work. Smart apostrophes, also known as curly or typographer's apostrophes, are the professional-looking marks preferred by most publishers.
How do you make a word ending in s possessive?
Most experts and guides say you should add an apostrophe and an S to both proper and common nouns to make them possessive even when they end in S. So, using the examples above, it would be: Chris's car. the crocus's petals.
How do you write James possessive?
To form the possessive of a noun that ends in S, AP style has separate rules for proper names and generic nouns. For proper names like James, AP says, add an apostrophe only: He borrowed James' car. For generics like boss, add an apostrophe plus S: He borrowed the boss's car.
Is it Lewis or Lewis's?
3 Singular Nouns (w/ "s" ending)nounpossessivecommon noun ending in "s" [singular]busbus's The bus's route went by Newt's house.proper noun ending in "s" [singular]LewisLewis's John Lewis's vibraphone is missing. [ Note exception 1]
Is it Jones or Jones's?
According to English style guides, singular possessives are formed with –'s and plurals with just an apostrophe, so the possessive of the singular Jones is Jones's and of the plural Joneses is Joneses'.
What is a possessive apostrophe example?
A possessive apostrophe is a form of apostrophe that you use to show that something belongs to or is connected to something else. For example, Linda's bag or the Queen's hat.
What are the 2 types of apostrophes?
There are two different kinds of apostrophes: smart and straight. To use them correctly, it helps to know how they work. Smart apostrophes, also known as curly or typographer's apostrophes, are the professional-looking marks preferred by most publishers.
Is it Davis or Davis's?
According to Grammarbook.com, the nerds of the world will argue heatedly on the subject for eternity, but the most roundly accepted rule is to include the apostrophe, along with an extra “S.” (Davis's rather than Davis').
How do you use apostrophe after S?
Use an apostrophe when showing possession If the plural of the word is formed by adding an "s" (for example, cats), place the apostrophe after the "s" (see guideline #3 below). If the plural of the word is formed without adding an "s" (for example, children), add apostrophe "s" ('s) as you would to the singular form.
What is possessive grammar?
When it comes to possessive grammar for compound nouns, there are a few ways this is going to be handled, depending on if the compound nouns are working “together” or “separately”. For example, when you say “Michele and Isabella’s”, it means they’re together in ownership.
How to teach possessives?
The key to teaching a lesson on possessives is to clearly state the differences in usage. Explore these tips for teaching possessives. Have an organized and well thought out lesson plan. Set up a few objectives and goals (i.e. covering one rule a day). Point out the difference between possessive form and plurals.
How to make a possessive plural?
For a plural possessive, you need to make a noun plural and use an apostrophe. For example, for the word girls, add an apostrophe at the end of the word "girls" - girls'. Do the same thing for possessive names ending in “s" like "Jones" (Jones') or "Hastings" (Hastings') as well.
How to show possession of a noun?
So, if you are talking about two women, then you would show possession by simply adding an apostrophe and the letter "s". For example:
Can you use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns?
Never use an apostrophe with plural possessive pronouns like his, hers, its, yours, or theirs. These pronouns already show possession so it is not necessary.
When to use an apostrophe?
An apostrophe is almost always used with a singular noun in order to indicate possession of an item or items by an individual. For example, use an apostrophe to indicate ownership with the following:
Is girl's sweater possessive?
Learn the rules for making singular, plural, and compound possessive case in a sentence. girl's sweater is green possessive grammar example.
How to tell if a noun is possessive?
When you have an ordinary noun like student, you can tell whether the possessive form refers to one student or many students by looking at where the apostrophe is. When you’re talking about one student, add apostrophe + s:
What is possessive case?
The possessive case shows ownership. 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. There are a few different ways to form the possessive of a noun. We’ll discuss these ways below.
What to do if a noun doesn't end with an s?
If the noun doesn’t end with an s, add ’s to the end of the noun. See the following examples: This is Mary and her dog. The dog is Mary’s pet; Mary is not the dog’s pet. This thick curtain is capable of shutting out the summer sun’s heat and light. This is the way to the men’s room.
When do you add an apostrophe to a plural noun?
But when you have a plural noun that ends in s, add just the apostrophe . This is also true when you have a proper noun that’s plural.
Do you add another s for the possessive form of a name ending with a s?
If a proper name ends with an s, you can add just the apostrophe or an apostrophe and an s. See the examples below for an illustration of this type of possessive noun.
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Do you need an apostrophe for possession?
If the possessor is a building, an object, or a piece of furniture, you don’t need to add an apostrophe to show possession. See the examples below for reference:
When do you use commas around an appositive?
Rule: When an appositive is essential to the meaning of the noun it belongs to, don’t use commas. When the noun preceding the appositive provides sufficient identification on its own, use commas around the appositive.
Do you need possessive with the word daughter?
The first one because the name is an optional information so you need to mark it off and your sentence has to make sense without it, too, hence you need the possessive 's with the word daughter.
When to use a comma in a sentence?
The name Janice is essential to the meaning of the word friend, since she is not their only friend. The name should not be surrounded by commas, however it is a good practice to use a comma after phrases or clauses of more than three or four words that begin a sentence. After short phrases or clauses, the comma is optional.
When to use commas around appositive?
When the noun preceding the appositive provides sufficient identification on its own , use commas around the appositive.”. If Shadam only refers to one person as mother (i.e., no stepmother, adoptive mother, etc.), the word Sarah is not essential to her mother, therefore use commas around the appositive.
What is an appositive?
The definition of an appositive is a word or word group that defines or further identifies the noun or noun phrase preceding it. Rule: When an appositive is essential to the meaning of the noun it belongs to, don’t use commas. When the noun preceding the appositive provides sufficient identification on its own, use commas around the appositive.
When is a comma unnecessary?
Our Rule 4b of Commas states, “A comma is usually unnecessary when a sentence starts with an independent clause followed by a dependent clause.”. However, in your sentence, the pause by the comma helps convey a parenthetical thought and separate the definition from the term.
Can you use a comma before "little sister"?
I think the sentence with my little sister can be both with and without the commas. If I have two little sisters, and one of them is called Ella, then the comma shouldn’t be there before the name. However, if have only one sister, then the comma should be there. Don’t you think so?
Is there a comma in the second sentence of Shadam?
In the second sentence, the phrase given to Shadam by her father is essential to the word scarf since it identifies that particular scarf. Therefore no comma is required there; however, if Shadam only has one father, the word Richard is not essential to her father. A comma is used around the appositive.
Is Julie Minsky a comma?
Explanation: Julie Minsky is necessary to help identify CEO, so no commas are used. Example: Julie Minsky, CEO, will be our featured speaker. Explanation: Julie Minsky is a precise identifier so the appositive is surrounded by commas. Example: The girl who received a scholarship is my sister.
What is an apostrophe in letters?
An apostrophe is use with letters in showing possession or ownership. If you want to know more about possessive apostrophes, this page will guide you and will give more details about it.
Does Dennis Bridge have an apostrophe?
Dennis Bridge’s son. (Added syllable is not being pronounced) Take note: Some authorities add only an apostrophe to words ending with “s”, regardless of the pronuncia tion. With this, it is acceptable. Keep in mind that whatever standard you are following, you need to be consistent. For instance: The clothes’ hem.
Do you need to add an apostrophe to a singular noun?
In addition, if singular noun is ending with “s”, you need to add apostrophe “s” especially, if extra syllable will be pronounce. If it is not pronounced or you think it is confusing to add the apostrophe “s”, then what you need is to add an apostrophe. Here are examples to check punctuation: The clothes’s hem.
Do you add an apostrophe to a possessive noun?
Rule one: If possessive noun is singular, then you need to add apostrophe plus “s”. Rule two: If possessive noun is not ending with the letter “s”, then you always need to add apostrophe plus “s”. Rule three: If possessive noun ends with the “s” and it is plural, what you only need to do is to add apostrophe.
When to put a comma in a sentence?
Normally, you should put a comma between two complete sentences that are joined with a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) that creates a single sentence with two independent clauses:
How to use commas in a list?
Rule #1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a List. This probably the first use of commas you learned in school: separating items in a list of three or more things. Here’s an example: The cake mix requires flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. Note that some style guides would not add the comma after the word “eggs”.
Why do we use dashes in a sentence?
John went for a jog – which took half an hour – before having a long hot shower. Dashes are useful if you want to imply a longer pause, or draw more attention to the nonessential element of the sentence. They’re also useful if you have several other commas in the sentence, to help avoid confusion.
What is the comma used after the penultimate item in a list?
We need bread, milk, cheese and eggs. In the first case, the “serial comma” or “Oxford comma” is used after the penultimate item in the list. In the second case, that comma is omitted. Some writers have very strong feelings for and against the serial comma.
Why do we use a comma in "He's a cheerful boy"?
A comma is used here, because it would also make sense to say, “He’s a cheerful and kind boy”.
Can you use a comma between two independent clauses?
Rule #9: Don’t Use a Comma Between Two Independent Clauses (Without a Conjuction) If you have two independent clauses, you can’t just use a comma to join them. You can use a semi-colon, or you can use a conjunction plus a comma. Incorrect: There were no clouds in the sky, I went for a jog.
Do you need a comma in Sue and John?
John was determined to get the unicorn slime his daughter wanted, but all the shops had sold out. You don’t need a comma if both the independent clauses are relatively short and similar in meaning: Sue went to the shops and John went home.
What is the possessive form of a name?
The possessive, or genitive, form in English is typically shown with an 's or ' tacked onto the end of a name or noun. A singular noun normally gets the 's, while a plural noun that ends in a /s/ or /z/ sound takes simply ':
What is double possessive?
The double possessive, or double genitive, serves to separate the possessive genitive from other functions of the genitive. "A dream of Mabel" can demonstrate the genitive of association, but "a dream of Mabel's" ensures that it's the genitive of possession at work.
Is double possessive grammatical?
They 're perfectly grammatical. The double possessive, usually using both of and 's to demonstrate possession, is grammatical. While it is sometimes unnecessary, it can be helpful for differentiating when the possessive (or genitive) case is about association or ownership, such as in "a picture of my friend" vs. "a picture of my friend's.".
Is Harry's mustache possessive?
Grammatically, English sometimes gets doubly possessive —think "that mustache of Harry's," which could be revised to be singly possessive as "Harry's mustache.". It's a curious thing, when you think about it. Curiosities of the language being our specialty, we're taking a closer look at the matter here. First, a quick review of the grammatical ...
