#18951
02/14/2001 5:58 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427 |
I am not bringing up the discussion on the frequent mix-up of these two, which I think has already been covered. Rather I am wondering whether anyone has devised/found a way to explain the difference between them to people who are not very knowledgeable in grammatical parlay, so that they will remember it (like a mnemonic device). My co-worker keeps getting them mixed up in printed public notices, though I have explained about possessives and verbs time and time again. He says he can't remember which is which and which is for what! Any help out there? 
|
|
|
#18952
02/14/2001 6:01 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
just tell him to keep the apostrophe out of "his" possessive pronouns.
|
|
|
#18953
02/14/2001 8:30 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
you / you're , so that they will remember it (like a mnemonic device).
-----------------------
If you're writing it you're, you are writing it right.
You're welcome.
Your pal,
wow
|
|
|
#18954
02/15/2001 9:02 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
If you're doing it, do it with an apostrophe, but if you own it, your apostrophe is redundant.
|
|
|
#18955
02/15/2001 11:37 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Marianna, I'm glad you're here!
To take tsuwm's suggestion a bit further (his original post on the subject was a little more detailed than this one),
what about something along the lines of: What is yours,
isn't ours. (Leaving 'you're' to the process of elimination.)
|
|
|
#18956
02/15/2001 3:36 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
If you can replace it with "you are" then it's "you're"
|
|
|
#18957
02/15/2001 3:52 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771 |
If you can replace it with "you are" then it's "you're" Exactly. And I could have sworn I posted something to a similar effect yesterday, but apparently the AWAD server sprites found that message a very tasty treat ~  Something to the effect that once someone pointed out the obvious to me, I've never forgotten it since!
|
|
|
#18958
02/15/2001 5:06 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96
journeyman
|
|
journeyman
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96 |
Just as FB said----If you can replace it with "you are" then it is You're and if it belongs to you---it is yours. (your car, your house, your dog etc---but on the other hand----"you're going to the car, you're going to the house, you're feeding the dog, etc"
enthusiast
enthusiast
|
|
|
#18959
02/15/2001 5:27 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Fiberbabe, I'm wondering if those server sprites are not Ænigma's spawn?  ...The point here is if Marianna's colleague doesn't understand grammar, it's no use discussing it with him. Just make it simple.
|
|
|
#18960
02/15/2001 5:47 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
make it simple
Language Acquisition (Part Deux):
"Me Tarzan. You Jane."
|
|
|
#18961
02/15/2001 7:21 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771 |
BM (oh my... I think we need to be careful about our abbreviations! ) ~ in all fairness, it was AnnaStrophic who said it first. AS, you're restored to your rightful throne of the origination of the quote! And as for you, Mav... "Me Tarzan, You Jane" provides the perfect forum for just this discussion. "Me Tarzan, You're Jane" fits the actual meaning of the phrase, whereas "Me Tarzan, Your Jane" implies that there was more to his leopardskin miniskirt than previous generations had ever suspected... 
|
|
|
#18962
02/15/2001 7:53 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
"Me Tarzan, Your Jane" implies that there was more to his leopardskin miniskirt than previous generations had ever suspected... --------------------------------------------------- Believe me dear FB, those micro mini, side slit pelt skirts worn by Maureen O'Sullivan in the earliest Tarzan adventures left little to the imagination ... except for the flights of fancy about what went on when the sun went down in the steamy jungle.  wow
|
|
|
#18963
02/15/2001 9:21 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094 |
All of the mnemonics suggested so far are fine and dandy if it's written out on paper, but most likely someone would want something that they can say out loud to remember. You can't hear the difference between you're and your. I suggest something like "When you are, an appostrophe is apposite."
|
|
|
#18964
02/15/2001 9:33 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
JazzOctopus makes a good point about needing to say the mnemonic rather than writing so I think AnnStrophic is right on the money with her observation "If you can replace it with "you are" then it's "you're""
wow
|
|
|
#18965
02/16/2001 11:31 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
to say...There's no apostrophe in your name. ..unless your name is Jane
|
|
|
#18966
02/19/2001 11:00 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427 |
Thanks for all your help, everyone. I have been away for a bit of a long weekend, but I shall start putting your suggestions to work first thing tomorrow... I'm afraid my poor colleague may be a bit overwhelmed by the end of the week! I'll let you know how we get on with it.
|
|
|
#18967
02/19/2001 11:28 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
Good luck with it Marianna. I think Jackie's suggestion >What is yours, isn't ours. is quite good because it clearly explains your as a word explaining possession.
|
|
|
|
|
