Apostrophes

[threnody]

The first one is correct because it is the only logical answer I think

[Tdol]

What would you say for the singular? One year or one year'sjail?

[bwana_ndege]

If you write it in full "10 years in jail" then you can see what the apostrophe is inferring.

or it could be "10 years' gaol"

[David L.]

If you write it in full "10 years in jail" then you can see what the apostrophe is inferring.


Check the difference between 'implying' and 'inferring'...
and think about the word 'indicating'.

[jlinger]

It's still "One year's jail term" -- a jail term of one year.

[meskete]

I hope you've been convinced by now. I really liked this 'one-year's time' example.
I'd like to add that I wouldn't use ten years' jail but ten years' time or something like that. Of course, it doesn't mean that it's incorrect
This winter's day is not the same question. It's really the day of the winter, possession, but there are also lots of examples where we use the apostrophy to indicate some length of time, such as two weeks' holiday or even a fortnight's holiday (no plural).

[moonz]

The crime can be punished by up to ten years jail.


I think the above sentence should be-
"The crime can be punished by up to ten years in jail."

Or

"The crime can be punished by up to ten years prison."
But, I'm not sure as I'm not a English native speaker.

[SUDHKAMP]

The first option sounds correct, as it means ten years confinement.

[heavensgate]

[COLOR=Olive][I][B]yeah.. for me, apostrophe is very important because it shows possessiveness.. and if there is no apostrophe, we cant distinguish whether were using the plural or singular form of the verb..
for example:
Teacher's lesson - singular form
Teachers' lesson - plural form

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by heavensgate

[color=Olive][i][b]yeah.. for me, apostrophe is very important because it shows possessiveness.. and if there is no apostrophe, we cant distinguish whether were using the plural or singular form of the verb noun..
for example:
Teacher's lesson - singular form
Teachers' lesson - plural form

The apostrophe also enables you to identify omitted letters [can't/we're] as opposed to words that are words in their own right [cant = insincere talk about religion or morals; were = second person singular past, plural past, and past subjunctive of "be"]