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Post by Vikki on Mar 6, 2010 15:38:25 GMT
Hi, Just wondered if anyone can help where my apostrophe should be in a sentence for my university assignment. The question is:
"The Zulus have the concept of Ubuntu as their form of justice within their community"
It is the Zulu bit, can't decide whether it should be Zulus' or Zulu's.
Help would be extremely grateful.
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Post by Vikki on Mar 6, 2010 17:08:08 GMT
Sorry should be the sentence is: (not the question is). Been a long day and brain is feeling a little fried.
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Post by Dave on Mar 6, 2010 18:56:23 GMT
"The Zulus have the concept of Ubuntu as their form of justice within their community" Your sentence is correct as written--no apostrophe needed. There is no possession or association here--just simple pluralization of Zulu, the same as if you were to use Americans, Canadians, or Australians. For some other countries, you might use a form like British, French, or Spanish. Don't let the fact that the word ends in a vowel throw you off course! It is the Zulu bit, can't decide whether it should be Zulus' or Zulu's. These would be used for the possessive case (which includes association) so that you might have The Zulus' Community Center (a place owned by more than one Zulu) or the Zulu's home (a home owned by a single Zulu person).
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Post by Vikki on Mar 6, 2010 21:32:39 GMT
Thanks very much for clearing that up. It did confuse me a little with it ending in a vowel. I also couldn't make my mind up if it was possessive because Ubuntu is part of the Zulus way of life, it is their philosophy.
Probably making it even more complicated now, my tutor this year is marking down for grammatical errors and I can't afford to drop any.
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Post by Sue M-V on Mar 7, 2010 2:10:55 GMT
Ubuntu is part of the Zulus way of life Ah, well, there you needed the apostrophe! If it's the Zulus' way of life: the way of life of the Zulus, then the apostrophe indicates that the way of life is theirs. If you're saying that the Zulus have the concept of Ubuntu, then you're saying something that Zulus do, and so no apostrophe is needed. The Zulus have a concept: it's the Zulus' concept. The Zulus have a way of life: it's the Zulus' way of life. The Zulus are guided by Ubuntu: Ubuntu is the Zulus' code. See? Of course, if it was only one Zulu you meant, then you'd write - The Zulu has a concept: it's the Zulu's concept. The Zulu has a way of life: it's the Zulu's way of life. ... and so on. Sue
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Post by Vikki on Mar 7, 2010 11:32:39 GMT
Thank you, Sue.
Think I am a little more clearer on this, never been able to get my head round apostrophe use except when it is replacing letters like can't.
Thanks for the help everyone.
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Post by Sue M-V on Mar 7, 2010 19:05:53 GMT
a little more clearer Vikki, if you're worried about your grammar, then you might also like to think about the comparison of adjectives! I don't mean to nag, but you said grammar was important to you (or your professor, anyway!). Adjectives of one and two syllables take -er and -est to make the comparative and superlative forms. Adjectives of three or more syllables are preceded by more and most. E.g.: clear - clearer - clearest tall - taller - tallest clever - cleverer - cleverest silly - sillier - silliest beautiful - more beautiful - most beautiful interesting - more interesting - most interesting But you never do both (add -er and put more in front!). So what you meant was that it's a little clearer. If it's still not completely clear, keep coming back and asking again! We have the patience of saints! Sue
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Post by Tone on Mar 7, 2010 20:41:32 GMT
>We have the patience of saints!<
That'll be Saint Hippocrates, then?
Tone
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Post by Sue M-V on Mar 7, 2010 23:45:04 GMT
I'll rephrase that: some of us have the patience of saints - just your average common or garden saints!
Sue ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2010 8:53:30 GMT
I was hoping someone could answer the question of where to put the apostrophe in "Happy Mothers Day"- does it refer to my mother or all mothers ?we couldn't decide and left it off , but would like to know for next time.
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Post by Twoddle on Apr 2, 2010 10:20:30 GMT
Missp,
Opinion is divided! Some (like me) prefer "Mothers' Day" because it's the day to honour mothers generally; some prefer "Mother's Day" because it's the day to honour one's own mother; and others use "Mothers Day", where "Mothers" is being used adjectivally, i.e. the day of type "Mothers".
For Americans, the President has decreed that it's "Mother's Day", but, then again, what does he know?
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Post by Pete on Apr 3, 2010 10:58:00 GMT
To be fair, at least he knew his mother.
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Post by Alan Palmer on Apr 6, 2010 11:18:53 GMT
Just to be clear, it was President Woodrow Wilson who made it an official national holiday in 1914.
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Post by Twoddle on Apr 6, 2010 22:28:31 GMT
Just to be clear, it was President Woodrow Wilson who made it an official national holiday in 1914. I think all subsequent presidents have reconfirmed it, but I may well be talking through my trousers in so saying.
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Post by looseball on Dec 30, 2010 9:50:03 GMT
How does it work with apostrophies (and speech for that matter) when brackets are involved; eg: "I borrowed Fred's (my brother's) football" ? Is this correct? Or " I saw Bob's (one of my golf partner's) car arrive"
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