Adjectives, Adverbs and apostrophes help

Question

At the moment I am taking an English class to help me remember or learn a few things. But it seems that I am learning new things and it isn't going to well. I can't get it. I don't understand. I can't believe I have been using the english language so wrong. That sentence has to have something wrong with it.
I am hoping that here I am able to understand what I am doing wrong and how I can get it right. Thank you so much in advance.

I would like to know if I got this right:
As both products are good, order the CHEAPER one from the MOST competent of the two clerks.
I don't understand the difference between using cheaper to cheapest or most to more.

Here is another one. This deals with apostrophes:
CHILDRENS clothes are on the fifth floor, next to the WOMENS department.
I am not sure if CHILDREN or WOMEN require apostrophes.
How about this one:
A SECRETARYS' contributions sometimes exceed those of the manager.
I don't get this. AGGGHHH!!!!

Here is a question what is a double negative when you are using a sentence. I mean how do you know if you have used a double negative in a sentence.

One more time thank you for any kind of help.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Don't panic!

(1)
As both products are good, order the CHEAPER one from the MOST competent of the two clerks.

The test-taking trick here is to notice the words "both" and "two".
Of the possibilities cheap, cheaper, cheapest, cheaper goes with both /two, cheapest with three or more. Of these: many, more, most, more goes with both/ two.

As both are good, get the cheaper from the more competent of the two.

(2)

There are different ways of handling the apostrophe question. Be sure you understand which standard your teacher is following.

If singular, add apostrophe "s". John's Charles's child's, woman's, secretary's
If plural and it doesn't already end in "s", add apostrophe "s". children's, woman's, men's
If plural and it does end in "s", add apostrophe only: secretaries', managers', workers'

Note that secretarys' is impossible. Since it's spelled as a singular (no ies at end), it has to follow the rule for singular: secretary's.
Likewise secretarie's is impossible. Spelled ies it's plural and follows the plural ending in "s" rule: secretaries'

(3) "Double negatives" is two (or more) negative words in the same sentence.

The negatives are anything ending in n't: don't, wouldn't, doesn't, etc. and the words no, not, no one, nobody, nothing, nowhere, never, none, ..., and hardly, barely, scarcely.

They don't have no bananas today. (don't, no)
We cannot never do a thing like that again. (cannot, never)
We don't hardly have no time to finish none of our tasks. (don't, hardly, no, none)
Don't you have nobody to help you? (don't, nobody)

Hope this helps.

Daca · Answer

To begin let me thank you for your help. I think I understand it better. It was like a little light going off in my head.
Let me see if I did get it though.

Here are some examples to see if I understood.

Double Negative:
I haven't seen no evidence to convict him.

1. The WITNESSES' gave their names and addresses to that ATTORNEYS secretary.

2. "These CONCLUSIONS are the PRESIDENTS," said the treasurer.

3. I did REALLY WELL on the grammar test.

4. Champ is the LAZIEST dog we've ever had.

5. He DOESN'T want to visit the corporate OFFICES.

Oh man I think I still don't get it. Especially for #5. I mean shouldn't it be offices'? It is more than one office. I don't get this thing.

CalifJim · Answer

Your example of a double negative is fine.

Sentences 1 and 2 have problems. 3, 4, and 5 are fine.

Concentrate on this: If no possession is shown, you don't want an apostrophe at all!

In the first two sentences I see various words that end in 'S'. But that doesn't mean they all show possession.

Possession is a loose term in grammar.
It may mean true ownership: My house = The house belonging to me. John's house = The house belonging to John.
Or it may mean something less - just an association of some kind: Susan's song = The song that Susan likes; the song we associate with Susan.

So, thinking of "belonging to" in a very, very loose way, in Sentence 1 you have the secretary 'belonging to' the attorney, and in Sentence 2 you have the conclusions 'belonging to the president. So 'attorney' and 'president' are the only words that need to have those "apostrophe 's' " rules applied.

When you put the apostrophe on "witnesses" you made it say: "belonging to the witnesses". I don't think the sentence was saying: The one(s) belonging to the witnesses gave their names ...
That doesn't make sense.

But the second sentence IS trying to say: These conclusions are (the ones) belonging to the president, so "president" needs to be looked at for what "apostrophe 's' " rule applies.

In the last sentence nothing is such that it belongs to the offices, so you certainly don't want any kind of apostrophe treatment there. You may think that these are offices 'belonging to the corporation', however. In that case you would need: the corporation's offices. But, no, in this case the adjective form of corporation (corporate) is used, and that alone is enough to show the "belonging" idea -- so no apostrophe on 'corporate'.

Anonymous · Answer

Would you put an apostrophe on Mr Jones' progress or Mr Mr Joneses progress or Mr Jones's progress.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Mr. Jones' progress (American English, frowned upon by some Brits)
Mr Jones's progress (British, and used in the US as well)

Mr Joneses' progress (correct if there are at least two men whose name is Jones)

Cheers
CB

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