Query re this punctuation question...

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devonmum
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:55 am

Query re this punctuation question...

Post by devonmum »

Please could somebody tell me which is the correct use of apostrophe:

The horses' tails flicked as they galloped in the field.

The horse's tails flicked as they galloped in the field.

Thanks :shock:
poiuyt
Posts: 317
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Location: England

Re: Query re this punctuation question...

Post by poiuyt »

First one as there is more than one horse
Sally-Anne
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Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: Query re this punctuation question...

Post by Sally-Anne »

The first one.
devonmum wrote:The horses' tails flicked as they galloped in the field.
There were plural horses, and therefore the plural takes the apostrophe at the end.

The exception to the rule is where a word is already a plural, such as the word children. "The children's words could be heard clearly." "The people's voice was heard."
The horse's tails flicked as they galloped in the field.
The horse has only one tail. The apostrophe is wrong because it replaces the possessive word "his", making "the horse (his) tails flicked ..."
devonmum
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:55 am

Re: Query re this punctuation question...

Post by devonmum »

Yes I thought it was the first one too. I was on a website selling on-line 11 plus tutoring (not sure if I should put the name on here). Took the free trial and this was one of the questions - I answered the first one and it said it was wrong it was the second one............

Don't think I will be signing up with them - and this on line tutoring site was recommended was a teacher at DS school :? :? :?
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: Query re this punctuation question...

Post by Sally-Anne »

devonmum wrote:Yes I thought it was the first one too. I was on a website selling on-line 11 plus tutoring (not sure if I should put the name on here). Took the free trial and this was one of the questions - I answered the first one and it said it was wrong it was the second one............

Don't think I will be signing up with them - and this on line tutoring site was recommended was a teacher at DS school :? :? :?
Aaargh! Caveat emptor - buyer beware! I am afraid that sub-standard resources abound.
poiuyt
Posts: 317
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:35 pm
Location: England

Re: Query re this punctuation question...

Post by poiuyt »

That is why I never trusted anyone with my dc except myself
devonmum
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:55 am

Re: Query re this punctuation question...

Post by devonmum »

I am doing DIY at the moment as cannot find a tutor... all booked up for next year or so :o so thought I would look for on-line tutor.... think I will just keeping DIYing!
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