going to the cinema

[steph_333]

hey,
i really need your help...
We had to write an article about what we'd suggest to be doing at the weekend..
So I wrote:
We could go to the movie's.
But my teacher insited on movies without the apostrophy.
Now I'd just like to know why, and if my sentence was wrong.
TIA

[Jamgirl]

Hi Tia

The sentence is fine, apart from the apostrophe. An apostrophe is used for contractions or to show belonging. An apostrophe should not be used for showing plurals. Here are some examples to explain.

Contractions: Do not - Don't. I have - I've.
Show belonging: "I went to Clara's house". The house belongs to Clara.

In your sentence, you should just write: "We could go to the movies". Your teacher is right!

[steph_333]

but once i read a book...
and there was..... We went to the movie's.
What does that mean, then????

[BobK]

but once i read a book...
and there was..... We went to the movie's.
What does that mean, then????

It means that the writer wasn't too choosy about the placement of apostrophes. A lot of people aren't. Greengrocers are famous for not caring about this. Examiners, however, are not at all like greengrocers.

b

[steph_333]

so do you mean then that the author of that book was wrong???

[BobK]

so do you mean then that the author of that book was wrong???

Yes, in the view of people who matter. (There's a view that as the use of the apostrophe is not uncommon in that context, calling it 'wrong' is of dubious value.)

b

[MikeNewYork]

so do you mean then that the author of that book was wrong???

I'll be more forceful than Bob K. The book was WRONG!

[BobK]

OK, I'd say wrong too Mike. I said 'there's a view that...', without meaning it's a view I subscribe to. It's just that there are some touchy people around here :nnww:*

b

* ps - fancy not having a smiley for 'nudge nudge, wink wink '

[westwind]

I know some of us like to play down sensitive issues as we don't want to hurt the others' feelings.

However, to blur the line between right and wrong is not the answer. Usually, I opt to tell the black-and-white truth instead of graying the matter since it'll only muddy the waters further if taking the latter approach.

The case in point: its versus it's - today so many people simply use "it's" for possessive case, i.e. the house with it's garden, which is WRONG (no two ways about it). It should be "its" without an apostrophe ( ' ). Bear in mind, there're exceptions in all rules and this is one of them.

I'm wondering if that's what (wrong grammar, improper punctations, misspellings) they teach in school nowadays. Well, if so, that's a crying shame and the education system is INDEED slipping!!

[MikeNewYork]

OK, I'd say wrong too Mike. I said 'there's a view that...', without meaning it's a view I subscribe to. It's just that there are some touchy people around here :nnww:*

b

* ps - fancy not having a smiley for 'nudge nudge, wink wink '

I was half teasing, but I don't think we should be afraid to call wrong things wrong.