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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
With or without apostrophe 's'
The suspected McKinley killer escaped last night.
The suspected McKinley's killer escaped last night.
1. Please advise which is correct above.
2. Both sound correct to my ear. If both are indeed correct, how are they different in meaning?
The suspected McKinley's killer escaped last night.
1. Please advise which is correct above.
2. Both sound correct to my ear. If both are indeed correct, how are they different in meaning?
Top answer
You would need the apostrophe s (second example). The genitive case is marked with 's in English, or if the word ends in s, simply an apostrophe (John's book -- James' book). You can also use a phrase such as "of McKinley, of John, of James" to express the same thing, but 's is more common.
- You would need the apostrophe s (second example).
- The genitive case is marked with 's in English, or if the word ends in s, simply an apostrophe (John's book -- James' book).
- You can also use a phrase such as "of McKinley, of John, of James" to express the same thing, but 's is more common.
- You don't however use a/an/the when you also use a possessive (which is what this is).
- Also, when a possessive is used, it comes first in the noun phrase (the noun plus all the words that modify it).
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2 Answers
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You would need the apostrophe s (second example). The genitive case is marked with 's in English, or if the word ends in s, simply an apostrophe (John's book -- James' book). You can also use a phrase such as "of McKinley, of John, of James" to express the same thing, but 's is more common.
You don't however use a/an/the when you also use a possessive (which is what this is). Also, whe
You don't however use a/an/the when you also use a possessive (which is what this is). Also, whe
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Thank you, drew.ward. I learned a lot from the points you've explained.
Just a follow up question, if there were two McKinleys, would the following be correct?
McKinleys' suspected killer escaped last night.
In the first place, do we use an apostrophe to make a proper noun plural?
eg. one McKinley -- two McKinley's
In the example sentence above
Just a follow up question, if there were two McKinleys, would the following be correct?
McKinleys' suspected killer escaped last night.
In the first place, do we use an apostrophe to make a proper noun plural?
eg. one McKinley -- two McKinley's
In the example sentence above
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