When to use apostrophes - Laura McClure

譯者: 安強 朱 審譯者: Ann Chen

Is it a flying comma, or a quotation mark chopped in half?

這是一個懸空的逗號或者是半個雙引號？

Either way, you may already be well-versed in how to use the apostrophe,

不論哪一種，你可能已精通撇號的用法

but here's a quick refresher on its usage.

在此我們快速地複習撇號的用法

The apostrophe can be used in three ways:

撇號有三種用法

to mark possession,

表示所有格

to mark contraction,

表示縮寫

to mark the plural of single letters.

表示單個字母的複數形式

Most of the time, if you see an apostrophe hovering helpfully near a word,

如果你看見撇號在某個單字旁

it's trying to mark possession or contraction.

很多時候，這表示所有格或者縮寫

First, let's look at how the apostrophe marks possession.

首先，讓我們看一下撇號怎樣表示所有格

As you can see, the placement of this punctuation mark

如你所見，這符號所在的位置

can really change the meaning of a sentence.

會改變整句話的意思

"Those robots in the sand are my sister's."

“那些在沙子裡的機器人是我姐姐的” Those robots in the sand are my sister's.

"Those robots in the sand are my sisters.'"

“那些在沙子裡的機器人是我姐姐們的” Those robots in the sand are my sisters.'

"Those robots in the sand are my sisters."

“那些在沙子裡的機器人是我姐姐們” Those robots in the sand are my sisters.

When showing possession, the apostrophe belongs next to the noun

當表示所有格時

撇號位在所有者的的旁邊

that owns or possesses something.

The noun can be singular or plural.

所有者可以是單數，也可以是複數

Proper nouns work, too.

也可以是專有名詞

So if Lucy needs to get her robots under control before they cause mayhem,

因此，如果露西(Lucy)想在她的機器人們 造成大混亂前控制住它們

those dangerous creatures would be "Lucy's robots."

這些“危险生物”就是“露西的機器人們” ("Lucy's robots")

But what if Lucy was Lucas?

那如果露西(Lucy)換成盧卡斯(Lucas)呢？

Would we write "Lucas' robots" or "Lucas's robots"?

我們應該寫 "Lucas' robots" 還是 "Lucas's robots"?

And what if Lucas gave his robots to the Robinsons family?

以及，如果盧卡斯((Lucas) 將他的機器人們 送给了羅賓斯一家 (the Robinsons) 呢？

Would it be "The Robinsons' robots," or "The Robinsons's robots"?

我們應該寫 "The Robinsons' robots" 還是"The Robinsons's robots?

The truth is, even grammar nerds disagree on the right thing to do.

事實是，哪怕是文法狂人都會對此有爭議

The use of 's after a proper noun ending in s is a style issue,

撇号加“s” ('s)在一個 以 s 结尾的專有名詞後的用法 和個人寫作風格有關

not a hard and fast grammar rule.

並不是一個很嚴格的文法規則

It's a conundrum without a simple answer.

這個難解的問題並沒有正確的答案

Professional writers solve this problem by learning what's considered correct

專業作家們在處理這問題時

for a publication, and doing that.

會根據出版物來調整

The important thing is to pick one style

重要的是選擇一種用法後

and stick with it throughout a piece of writing.

就在整篇作品中維持此用法

One more wrinkle.

還有一個小問題

Certain pronouns already have possession built in

一些代名詞已經是“所有格”時

and don't need an apostrophe.

就不需要撇號

Remembering that will help you avoid one of the trickiest snags in English grammar:

記住這一點可幫你 解決一個棘手的文法問題

its vs. it's.

its和it's的差別

"It's" only take an apostrophe when it's a contraction for "it is" or "it has."

“It's”是一個縮寫 表示“它是”(it is)或“它已經”(it has)

If you can replace "it's" with one of those two phrases,

如果你想表達這兩種意思

use the apostrophe.

你可以使用撇號

If you're showing possession, leave it out.

如果你想表示所有格 不要用撇號

Otherwise, contractions are pretty straightforward.

其他情況下，撇號相當簡單易懂

The apostrophe stands in for missing letters,

撇號可以代替省略的單字

and lets common phrases squash into a single word.

使一個片語縮寫成一個字

In rare cases, you can have a double contraction,

在一些少見的情況中 你可用兩次撇號

though those generally aren't accepted in writing,

但這種寫法通常不會出現在正式的寫作中

with the exception of dialogue.

除非用來表示對話語句

So it's possessive, it's often followed by s's,

因此表示所有格時， 通常後面會有一個 “s's”

and it's sometimes tricky when it comes to its usage.

在用「他的」用法時，有時會有些特別

It's the apostrophe.

這就是撇号