Homework

[raichu]

My 9 year old son has been set homework which is a short story if you like and he has to put in 10 apostrophes. He had a go and got 24!! I have tried to explain when and where to put them - I had a go and I can only find 8 anyway. Will someone else have a go please and see whats what Here is the short story..............Many peoples hobby is collecting things and that is Davids hobby too. But David is one of the worlds worst collectors. Between the ages of five and fourteen David has collected things. He has collected football cards, stamps, labels, coins, train numbers, book marks, postcards, boys comics, posters and many other things. David always starts his collections with great enthusiasm. He buys books and magazines on the new subject and, to his parents despair, talks about nothing else. After a few weeks energetic collecting, however, Davids interest suddenly begins to fade and soon another collection has come to an end. Davids bedroom and his fathers garden shed are full of the remains of old collections. David is a successful collector of only one thing. He collects collections. Thanks.

[Gef]

I too could only find eight. In the order in which tey appear: people's; David's; world's; boy's; parents'; David's; David's; father's.

[surferchik]

yes, i can only find the same eight - that is rather silly! There is definately not ten!

[Le Chat]

Same here..I have A level English too ...so I'm a smarty pants. I take it you like Pokeman raichu. (My son is 9 also!)

[raichu]

Thanks Gef, surferchick & Le Chat. I have a parents evening on Tuesday so I think this is one paper we will be taking in to discuss. My son was crazy about pokemon at the time we got our new dog 5 years ago we said he could choose her name it was either raichu or pickachu - he chose raichu - a dobermann called raichu!!!

[Clanad]

Here's a website to help you in your meeting...

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html

[Drusilla]

Just a possibility, is there a title with the two missing apostrophes?

[lady_p_gold]

Shouldn't it be boys' comics ... .comics of boys ??

[WendyS]

I found 9.

peoples' hobby (collective hobby, not singular) David's hobby. boys' comics. world's worst parents' despair (another collective rather than singular), few weeks' (another collective) David's interest, David's bedrom, father's garden

I'm blessed if I can find the tenth and like to pride myself I know my English grammer well.

[mycatis]

sorry I dont know the answer raichu, but I just wanted to say I laughed at your "dobermann called raichu" my cat was called Jigglypuff. That was fun at the vet! (My son is also nine lol)

[MrsJo49155]

Can I just say that this is a totally boring and difficult piece of homework to set for a 9 year old - how are kids supposed to learn if you give them this sort of boring text?!

[Gadgetman]

Wendy S. Shouldn't that be grammAr! Hee hee.

[Gef]

Sorry Wendy, I got boys' wrong but I disagree with two of your others. "Many people's hobby" means the hobby of many people - not peoples. Also I can't see why an apostrophe is necessary in weeks.

[lyndunnpoet]

im going back to school i found 3

[Quizmonkey]

I make it 9 too. People's is correct (not peoples' - which would mean 'of several tribes/races'). Weeks' too is correct (as in four years' experience). And there can't be a title anywhere Drusilla, as they would be single quotes and not apostrophes.

I guess it's one of those questions that makes the kids study it really hard - and not fall into the trap of inserting an incorrect one just becasue they're told there are 10.

[BetsyLou]

Yes, nine. I agree with QM. Could do with some commas, too, if you ask me.. :)