Apostrophe s

Apostrophe s  when attached with noun (living beings only) shows the ownership, authorship and relationship of that noun.

 

Where the Apostrophe s can be used?

• Used only with nouns representing living things

• Not used with lifeless things excepting in some particular cases.

 

7 methods and ways of its use

 

It is only used with the names of living things

( Shahzad’s car, student’s room, family’s section, Cow’s tail, Teacher’s cap)

 

Used with the names of personified objects

(personified objects are more or less like abstract nouns)

 (fortune’s favorite, duty’s call, death’s door, sorrow’s tears)

 

 Used with nouns denoting time

( Year’s absence, day’s journey, week’s holiday, three days’ grace, hour’s meeting)

 

Used with nouns denoting space

(arm’s length, hair’s breadth, stone’s throw)

 

Used with nouns denoting weight

(pound’s weight, ton’s load)

 

Used with nouns representing certain dignified objects

(Sun’s radiation , Heaven’s will, the court’s decree, duty’s call, and Nature’s work)

 

Not used with lifeless things except following  few phrases

(At his finger’s end, to his heart’s content, journey’s end, out of harm’s way, for mercy’s sake, the ship’s passengers, the boat’s crew)

 

Where apostrophe s (’s) is deleted or omitted?

 2 cases

If last syllable of singular noun ends in s or ce and the noun is followed by the word sake, the ’s is deleted.

(For goodness sake, for conscience sake)

 

S after apostrophe is deleted in all plural nouns ending in s.

  (Dogs’ bite, elephants’ show, ladies’ dress, lions’ power)

 

Five (5) rules to be noted about use of apostrophe s (’s)

 

Rule # 1

Plural nouns which does not end in s, take apostrophe s (’s) for showing possession or relationship

(men’s sneakers, children’s bus)

 

Rule # 2

Noun which is consist of two or more words takes apostrophe s ('s) with last word.

(governor general’s speech, commander-in-chief’s orders, Government of Pakistan’s policy, Mrs. Sultan’s house)

 

Rule # 3

If two nouns are in apposition to each other, apostrophe s ('s) will attach to latter.

Apposition: Noun or noun phrase follows another to describe it, the latter is said to be in apposition to the former.

 

(Allama Iqbal, the Poet of East’s tomb, This is Quaid – e- Azam, the Founder of Pakistan’s house. Field Marshal, Muhammad Ayub Khan’s book)

 

Rule # 4

The words shop, school and house are usually omitted after Apostrophe s ('s).

I met him at his uncle’s.  (house omitted)

I met him at tailor’s. (shop omitted)

I studied in saint anthony’s. (school omitted)

 

Rule # 5

 

Apostrophe s ('s) is never used with personal possessive pronouns

Yours sincerely

(apostrophe s ('s) is not allowed with your, his, her, their, our)