Possessive exercise.
Complete the sentences with apostrophes (') where necessary (possession or contradiction).1. There are lots of expensive womens clothes shops round here.
2. We went to James and Amandas party last night.
3. Thats the towns only bakers.
4. On Saturdays I often look round the shops.
5. Theres been a florists on that corner for years.
6. Two of my friends wives run small businesses from home.
7. Shes going to spend a few nights at her parents.
8. There are too many estate agents in this neighbourhood.
9. Charles sisters both live in flats in the centre.
10. The towns only greengrocers closed down last year.
My try:
1. There are lots of expensive women's clothes shops round here.
2. We went to James and Amanda's party last night.
3. That's the town's only baker's.
4. On Saturdays I often look round the shops.
5. There's been a florist's on that corner for years.
6. Two of my friends' wives run small businesses from home.
7. She's going to spend a few nights at her parents'.
8. There are too many estate agents' agents in this neighbourhood.
9. Charles' sisters both live in flats in the centre.
10. The town's only greengrocer's closed down last year.
Very good Fer! The use of the apostrophe can be very confusing even for native speakers.
As I'm sure you know, the noun is often omitted from the end of the sentence:
That's the town's only baker's shop.
There's been a florist's store on that corner for years.
She's going to spend a few nights at her parents' house.
The town's only greengrocer's shop closed down last year.
So, in theory you could say There are too many estate agents' as a short form of There are too many estate agents' offices but it would be more common to refer to the number of estate agents in the town (There are too many estate agents).
Also, in normal conversation, you could use the singular form in some of the sentences:
That's the town's only baker.
There's been a florist on that corner for years.
The town's only greengrocer closed down last year.
