On Wed, 11 Oct 2000 18:59:28 -0400, Terri FitzSimons wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Oct 2000, Clarence Verge wrote in part:
>> I made this reply while the list was down and thought the thread in it's
> original form might be of interest to some. I hope the messages that have
> been lost in space do not come back to jam the list with
> duplicates. <
> I tell you yet again: "IT'S" is NOT the possessive of "IT";
> this is a contraction meaning "IT IS." The possessive has no
> apostrophe.
> Terri
> Official Grammar Sheriff
So, when *do* we use an apostrophe to indicate possession? ;-)
Q: Is this reply being typed on.....
a) Glenns computer
b) Glenn's computer
c) Glenns' computer
A: ???
Q: If the answer is a).... How would we differentiate between the
possessive "Glenns" and the plural "Glenns".
"This reply is being typed on Glenns computer".
"We have three Glenns on this list".
A: ???
Q: If the answer is b).... How would we differentiate between the
possessive "Glenn's" and the contraction of "Glenn is" ?
"This reply is being typed on Glenn's computer".
"Glenn's asking these questions".
A: ???
Q: If the answer is c).... How would we differentiate between the
singular possessive "Glenns'" and the plural possessive of all
three Glenns on the list?
"This reply is being typed on Glenns' computer".
"This message is now being sent to all three Glenns' inboxes".
A: ???
IMHO, Non-English speaking members of this list should now begin to see
how "Utterly Stupid" the English language really is.
Go ahead Terri,
Point out the mistakes in the above sentence (and this one).<vbg>
--
Glenn
(your friendly neighborhood compu-nerd)
http://www.delorie.com/listserv/mime/
