Use of Apostrophes

[Destined]

Hi,

I am terribly sorry if this is in the incorrect section.

I have an exam this Friday,and I will have to write out two proposal letters in 40 minutes. The problem is, I am having some serious trouble understanding when to use Apostrophes.

for e.g.

Customers
Customers'
Customer's

Members
Members'
Member's

Retailers
Retailers'
Retailer's

for e.g.

I appreciate the concern that has been raised by the retailers' -- would that be right?

How about-- I appreciate the concerns' raised by the staff members

Or I appreciate my colleagues opinions'...


Also, how about the words like; goods, trolleys, boxes, hats, hoods, scarfs. Am I right in assuming that none of them require a apostrophe?

PS: can't is cannot right, I've been told to write it as "can not"? as in "I cannot stress how the safety of our customers is such an importance here"

Thank you in advance.

[Anglika]

Hi,

I am terribly sorry if this is in the incorrect section.

I have an exam this Friday,and I will have to write out two proposal letters in 40 minutes. The problem is, I am having some serious trouble understanding when to use Apostrophes.

for e.g.

Customers The customers were waiting to be served [no posssessive]
Customers' Where is the customers' package? [more than one customer]
Customer's What is the customer's complaint? [a single customer]

Members
Members'
Member's

Retailers
Retailers'
Retailer's

for e.g.

I appreciate the concern that has been raised by the retailers' -- would that be right? No. "...raised by the retairlers' complaints/objections".

How about-- I appreciate the concerns' raised by the staff members "concerns" cannot have a possession

Or I appreciate my colleagues opinions'...straightforward plural opinions - no apostrophe. Howe4verm, they are my colleagues' opinions, so an apostrophe is needed.


Also, how about the words like; goods, trolleys, boxes, hats, hoods, scarfs. Am I right in assuming that none of them require a apostrophe?


PS: can't is cannot right, I've been told to write it as "can not"? as in "I cannot stress how the safety of our customers is such an importance here"

Don't. "cannot" is the correct form, unless for some reason you are wishing to put a stress on "can" and "not".

Thank you in advance.

..

[Destined]

Thank you, that has helped me a lot!

Putting it into practice, is this right?

The customers safety here is paramount..

I am writing to you in regards to the letter I received stating that various retailers' are in favor of banning..
(I'm not sure if it's retailers or retailers', reason I put retailers' is because it's a petition that belongs to the retailers)

A staff member's bag was stolen from the locker rooms..

The staff members' cars were scratched earlier this evening..

The staff members are extremely happy with the recent changes here at..

Thank you again.