Page 2 | To not understand this homework! Please help!

TomJonesHuhhh · 02/05/2024 14:49

In the forest, the wolves' howls echoed as the trees' branches swayed in the wind. Underground, in the foxes' home, they huddled together to get warm. In the trees, the squirrels' feet pattered as they scrambled up and down the branches looking for food.

wompwomp · 02/05/2024 14:47

Nah. Way too many apostrophes where not needed.

Saddlesore · 02/05/2024 14:46

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 02/05/2024 14:30

Not necessarily, 'they' could be a natural choice instead of he, she or it.

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Really? Do squirrels now have the ability to express preferred pronouns? Until they do, I think we should reinforce correct grammar. To do otherwise underserves our children.

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 02/05/2024 14:30

barnefri · 02/05/2024 12:43

But “they scrambled up and down” would indicate more than one squirrel scrambling up and down the trees, yes? Not that a single squirrel has feet that are scrambling up and down independent of one other. So “squirrels’ feet” would be correct and “squirrel’s feet” would not.

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Not necessarily, 'they' could be a natural choice instead of he, she or it.

barnefri · 02/05/2024 12:43

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 02/05/2024 12:35

You don't know this for sure, 'as they pattered' could refer to the multiple feet of one squirrel.

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But “they scrambled up and down” would indicate more than one squirrel scrambling up and down the trees, yes? Not that a single squirrel has feet that are scrambling up and down independent of one other. So “squirrels’ feet” would be correct and “squirrel’s feet” would not.

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 02/05/2024 12:35

StasisMom · 02/05/2024 12:26

Squirrel's should be squirrels' - it's more than one squirrel.

You don't know this for sure, 'as they pattered' could refer to the multiple feet of one squirrel.

Original poster

ThatEdgyHedgehog · 02/05/2024 12:29

Thank you so much for clarifying!

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Gridhopper · 02/05/2024 12:27

There’s no way of knowing if it should be squirrel’s or squirrels’ because the ‘they’ could indicate plural squirrels or an unspecified gender squirrel! So both would be right.

Original poster

ThatEdgyHedgehog · 02/05/2024 12:27

Oh I see, I have misunderstood the answer sheet. The answer sheet I have look different to that one and the incorrect apostrophes have remained.

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StasisMom · 02/05/2024 12:26

Squirrel's should be squirrels' - it's more than one squirrel.

StasisMom · 02/05/2024 12:25

Howls, branches and trees shouldn't have an apostrophe as they are not in possession of anything.

User478 · 02/05/2024 12:25

Here's the answers that Twinkl have on their worksheet.

To not understand this homework! Please help!

Original poster

ThatEdgyHedgehog · 02/05/2024 12:25

Thank you! I spent ages last night trying to work that out.

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curlywurlymum · 02/05/2024 12:24

ThatEdgyHedgehog · 02/05/2024 12:23

Okay so I do understand it. The answer booklet (that I found online) had the sentence punctuated as in my OP.

This is the correction from Twinkl

MarmitePizza · 02/05/2024 12:24

Sudokufreak · 02/05/2024 12:22

Sentence 1 branches and howls should not have apostrophes. Sentence 2 - looks OK. Sentence 3 -no apostrophe in trees, squirrels', and no apostrophe in branches.

Edited

Squirrels should have an apostrophe but it should be after the s, not before.

VickyEadieofThigh · 02/05/2024 12:23

takealettermsjones · 02/05/2024 12:19

It should be:

In the forest, the wolves' howls echoed as the trees' branches swayed in the wind. Underground, in the foxes' home, they huddled together to get warm. In the trees, the squirrels' feet pattered as they scrambled up and down the branches looking for food.

Assuming there are several wolves, trees, foxes and squirrels. If any of these are singular then it changes.

This is correct.

Original poster

ThatEdgyHedgehog · 02/05/2024 12:23

Okay so I do understand it. The answer booklet (that I found online) had the sentence punctuated as in my OP.

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Original poster

ThatEdgyHedgehog · 02/05/2024 12:22

So many responses, thank you

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Sudokufreak · 02/05/2024 12:22

Sentence 1 branches and howls should not have apostrophes. Sentence 2 - looks OK. Sentence 3 -no apostrophe in trees, squirrels', and no apostrophe in branches.

VickyEadieofThigh · 02/05/2024 12:21

KittyCollar · 02/05/2024 12:18

The only correct apostrophe is the one after foxes

You're wrong. For example, wolves' is correct (because it's possessive, referring to the howls OF the wolves). There are other correct ones (other possessive apostrophes) and some incorrect ones.

AGlinnerOfHope · 02/05/2024 12:21

No, lots are right, lots are wrong.

It’s possession. So rephrase each one as being the x of the y.

The howls of the wolves- so wolves’ howls.
The howls belong to the wolves.

The branches of the trees- Trees’ branches.

It’s not the trees belonging to the branches, it’s the branches belonging to the trees.

Does that help?

FourOfDiamonds · 02/05/2024 12:20

I'm not 100% sure but this is my attempt:

In the forest, the wolves' howls echoed as the trees' branches swayed in the wind. Underground, in the foxes' home, they huddled together to get warm. In the trees, the squirrels' feet pattered as they scrambled up and down the branches looking for food.

pentagonisapentagon · 02/05/2024 12:20

can you give the original task? It’s actually quite confusing to understand.

MarmitePizza · 02/05/2024 12:20

KittyCollar · 02/05/2024 12:18

The only correct apostrophe is the one after foxes

and wolves’ and trees’

Original poster

ThatEdgyHedgehog · 02/05/2024 12:19

According to Twinkl, that is correct. Can you correct it for me please?

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