Modern languages in decline
#46
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OK to answer your question
an apostrophe is used to show possession, as in Fred's DVD - the apostrophe shows that the DVD belongs to Fred
or, an apostrophe is used in a contraction (putting two words together) to replace the missing letter, as in it's his DVD, so the apostrophe replaces the i from it is
an apostrophe is never needed to make something plural
so......... two DVD's for 5€ is wrong - there is neither possession nor a contraction, it is simply more than one DVD (plural) so the apostrophe isn't required - it should be two DVDs 5€
an apostrophe is used to show possession, as in Fred's DVD - the apostrophe shows that the DVD belongs to Fred
or, an apostrophe is used in a contraction (putting two words together) to replace the missing letter, as in it's his DVD, so the apostrophe replaces the i from it is
an apostrophe is never needed to make something plural
so......... two DVD's for 5€ is wrong - there is neither possession nor a contraction, it is simply more than one DVD (plural) so the apostrophe isn't required - it should be two DVDs 5€
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#48
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These days since most people don't get taught english grammar anymore (thus making it more difficult to learn another language) we are all supposed to ignore mistakes because we should be able to guess what was meant. If you pick someone up on their spelling or grammar it's just being pedantic. So I don't know how children are supposed to learn.
Here's a classic from my next door neighbours:
Him "so I gave him 5 euros and said 'Derecha mate'. E just looked at me like I was stupid or something."
Her "wot was wrong with that? 'All right mate' that's universal innit?"
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#49
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IT is a whole different language but if a programmer makes a mistake the program runs incorrectly or not at all.
These days since most people don't get taught english grammar anymore (thus making it more difficult to learn another language) we are all supposed to ignore mistakes because we should be able to guess what was meant. If you pick someone up on their spelling or grammar it's just being pedantic. So I don't know how children are supposed to learn.
Here's a classic from my next door neighbours:
Him "so I gave him 5 euros and said 'Derecha mate'. E just looked at me like I was stupid or something."
Her "wot was wrong with that? 'All right mate' that's universal innit?"![ROFL](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
![ROFL](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
These days since most people don't get taught english grammar anymore (thus making it more difficult to learn another language) we are all supposed to ignore mistakes because we should be able to guess what was meant. If you pick someone up on their spelling or grammar it's just being pedantic. So I don't know how children are supposed to learn.
Here's a classic from my next door neighbours:
Him "so I gave him 5 euros and said 'Derecha mate'. E just looked at me like I was stupid or something."
Her "wot was wrong with that? 'All right mate' that's universal innit?"
![ROFL](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
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Do they teach the proper use of apostrophes in primary schools in the UK now? I know it's on the GCSE requirements because in recent years I have tutored a few kids for English GCSE - the GCSE textbooks have sections about it
maybe they just leave it too late
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I DO pick my kids up if they make mistakes with their English - but I wouldn't dream of doing so to a perfect stranger on a forum - as so many sadly seem to
strangely - or maybe not - my kids don't have a problem with apostrophes
maybe it's because Spanish is pretty much their first written language & they have learned written English almost as a foreign language - the Spanish people I've taught never seem to have a problem either - contractions are taught pretty much from day one, as are plurals
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#50
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Do they teach the proper use of apostrophes in primary schools in the UK now? I know it's on the GCSE requirements because in recent years I have tutored a few kids for English GCSE - the GCSE textbooks have sections about it
maybe they just leave it too late![Unsure](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/unsure.gif)
I DO pick my kids up if they make mistakes with their English - but I wouldn't dream of doing so to a perfect stranger on a forum - as so many sadly seem to
strangely - or maybe not - my kids don't have a problem with apostrophes
maybe it's because Spanish is pretty much their first written language & they have learned written English almost as a foreign language - the Spanish people I've taught never seem to have a problem either - contractions are taught pretty much from day one, as are plurals
maybe they just leave it too late
![Unsure](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/unsure.gif)
I DO pick my kids up if they make mistakes with their English - but I wouldn't dream of doing so to a perfect stranger on a forum - as so many sadly seem to
strangely - or maybe not - my kids don't have a problem with apostrophes
maybe it's because Spanish is pretty much their first written language & they have learned written English almost as a foreign language - the Spanish people I've taught never seem to have a problem either - contractions are taught pretty much from day one, as are plurals
As for the neighbour who thought 'derecha' meant 'all right' in spanish. He's been asked to help with the english class at the local school.
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#52
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No sorry, please don't think I was suggesting we should all be correcting each others grammar or spelling. I think that should be left to parents and teachers. I just don't think it happens much these days. My nephew asked me to look over his university application 5 years ago. It was riddled with bad grammar, spelling mistakes and ambiguity. Yet he was a bright boy at a good school and went on to get a 2:1 and then an Msc at Sheffield.
As for the neighbour who thought 'derecha' meant 'all right' in spanish. He's been asked to help with the english class at the local school.
As for the neighbour who thought 'derecha' meant 'all right' in spanish. He's been asked to help with the english class at the local school.
I meant to comment on the 'derecha' thing - that wouldn't be the first time I've heard that - & I feel so sorry for the kids he'll be teaching
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#56
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There is also chinese and Arabic and Urdu/Hindi thats quite commonly used around the world
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#59
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Mind your p's and q's.
He had three PhDs, but there were six Ph.D.'s in the room. Or, my town has two YMCAs, but the next town has three Y.M.C.A.'s.
I think.
Ain't English grand?
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#60
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OK - it's controversial. Many people use the apostrophe in acronyms to indicate the missing letters. Working in IT (acronym hell!)we always used the apostrophe in this way. I was pulled up by our style chiefs for not using it. Long discussion here
Note to self, read entire thread before posting. See it's covered.
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