Apostrophe

[jack]

"I have fixed my co-wokers, families, and friends' car." <--correct? why?

"I have fixed my co-wokers', families', and friends' car." <--incorrect? why?

 

[Tdol]

"I have fixed my co-workers', families', and friends' car."

This is correct as long as you have more than one of each. More likely,would be the following:
"I have fixed my co-workers', family's, and friends' car."

We generally only have one family.;-)

PS note the spelling of 'workers'

 

[bmo]

how come it is not cars?
Thanks.

 

[jack]

"There goes the days pay." <--incorrect?
"There goes the day pay." <--incorrect?
"There goes the day's pay." <--correct? Does this mean that "day" belongs to "pay"? And does the sentence mean that your pay for today is gone?

 

[Francois]

There goes the payday?

FRC

 

[jack]

There goes the payday?

FRC

I am trying to say there goes your pay for today.

 

[Tdol]

There goes your day's pay. ;-)

 

[jack]

The gravy guns’ positions are changed. <-correct? what does this mean?
The gravy gun’s positions are changed. <-correct? what does this mean?

The gravy gun’s position is changed. <-correct? what does this mean?
The gravy guns’ position is changed. <-correct? what does this mean?

Is it correct to say?
This is a Windows XP’s service pack. <--this sentence sounds kind of awkward to me, can someone explain to me why?
Or this would be better? If so, why?
This is a Windows XP service pack.

These are Jack’s assets. <--does this mean these assets belong to one Jack?
These are Jacks’ assets. <--does this mean these assets belong to many Jacks?

These are science books.
These are science’s books. <---this sounds peculiar? Why and is it incorrect?

 

[Casiopea]

how come it is not cars?
Thanks.

I have fixed my friend's car. (one friend, one car)
I have fixed my friends' car. (more than one friend, one car)
I have fixed my friends' cars. (more than one friend, more than one car)

I have fixed my coworker's, family's, and friend's car. (one car each)
I have fixed my coworker's, family's, and friend's cars. (more than one car each or one car each (i.e., I have fixed each of their cars)

All the best,

 

[Casiopea]

The gravy guns’ positions are changed. (OK)
The gravy gun’s positions are changed. (Not OK)
==>gun's position (one gun, one position, is)

The gravy gun’s position is changed. (has been changed)
The gravy guns’ position is changed. (have been changed)

This is a Windows XP's service pack. (Not OK)
==> This is Windows XP's service pack.
==> This service pack belongs to Windows XP.

This is a Windows XP service pack. (OK)

These are Jack’s assets. (Jack owns them; they are his)
These are Jacks’ assets. (More than one Jack; sounds Odd, though)

Jacks, pronunication: [jaeks], means, "Jack's".

These are science books. (OK; adjective)
These are science’s books. (Not OK; 'science' is inanimate; animate noun take apostrophe -'s; inanimate nouns usually take the 'of' phrase:

1a. John's book
(John is animate; he can own/possess things)

1b. book of John's (Not OK)

2a. leg of the table (table is inanimate; the leg is a part of the table; the table doesn't own/possess the leg). :wink:

2b. table's leg (OK, but means the table owns/possesses the leg)

All the best,

 

[jack]

Thank you very much.

What's the difference in meaning between the sentences below?
The gravy guns’ position is changed.
The gravy guns’ positions are changed.

and this one:
The gravy gun’s position is changed.
The gravy guns’ position is changed.

I have fixed my coworkers', familys', and friends' cars. <--does this mean: more than one friend, coworker, family and more than one car?

This is someone else’s car. <--correct?
This is someone elses’ car. <--incorrect? why is it not correct?
These are Jacks’ cars. <--correct?
This is Jacks’ car. <--incorrect?


Thanks.

 

[jack]

Exmaple:
1. This is the enemy flag. (describing what kind of flag it is)
2. This is the enemy's flag. (meaning the flag belongs to the enemy.)

Is it correct to say this then? If not, why?
3. This is Jack car.
4. This is Jack's car.

Are these correct?
5. This is describing what kind of flag it is.
6. This is describing what kind of flag is it.

 

[Francois]

1. This is the enemy flag. (describing what kind of flag it is)
2. This is the enemy's flag. (meaning the flag belongs to the enemy.)

2) is correct. The flag is not an enemy, but belong to them.

3. This is Jack car.
4. This is Jack's car.

4) => likewise, the car belongs to you.

5. This is describing what kind of flag it is.
6. This is describing what kind of flag is it.

5) is correct.

FRC

 

[jack]

I can't say this?
1. This is Jack car.

How come I can say this:
1. This is the enemy flag.

 

[Casiopea]

I can't say this?
1. This is Jack car.

1. is incorrect. 'Jack' refers to a person. Try,

This is his car or This is a blue car.

How come I can say this:
1. This is the enemy flag.

It's possible, but context is required.

2. This is the enemy flag. ('enemy' as a descriptive adjective)

Compare,

3. This is the enemy's flag. ('enemy' as a possessive adjective)

All the best,

 

[Francois]

You can't say the first, but eventually I think you can both "enemy flag" and "enemy's flag".


FRC

 

[Francois]

I'm late again

FRC

 

[jack]

Thanks.

 

[Casiopea]

Thanks.

You're welcome.

 

[jack]

Are these correct? If not, why?

1. The wraith's gun is so weak.
2. The wraith gun is so weak.

3. Jack's gun is so weak.
4. Jack gun is so weak. (For people, you have to use 'apostrophe s' right?)

5. I have a Sony TV.
6. I have Jack's TV.
7. I have Sony's TV. (is this correct? why?)

8. Jack's Catch-phase: Practice makes perfect.
9. Viewsonic (Viewsonic is a monitor brand) Catch-phase: See the difference.
10. Jack catch-phase: Practice makes perfect. (Is this incorrect? b/c for people you have to use 'Jack's'?)
10. Viewsonic's Catch-phase: See the difference.