Is it a flying comma, or a quotation mark chopped in half?

這是長翅膀的逗號，還是被分做兩半的引號？

Either way, you may already be well-versed in how to use the apostrophe, but here's a quick refresher on its usage.

不論是哪種情況，你應該已經很清楚如何使用撇號「'」，但這裡還是很快地幫你複習一下它的用法。

進階被動語態

The apostrophe can be used in three ways: to mark possession, to mark contraction, to mark the plural of single letters.

在下列三種情況下須使用撇號：標記所有物、標記縮寫、標記單一字母的複數用法。

Most of the time, if you see an apostrophe hovering helpfully near a word, it's trying to mark possession or contraction.

在大多數的情況，如果你看到撇號盤旋在一個詞彙上，那是為了要標記所有物和縮寫。

First, let's look at how the apostrophe marks possession.

首先，我們來看看如何用撇號標記所有物。

As you can see, the placement of this punctuation mark can really change the meaning of a sentence.

如你所見，撇號所在的位置會完全改變整句話的意思。

"Those robots in the sand are my sister's."

「這些在沙堆中的機器人是我姊姊的東西。」

"Those robots in the sand are my sisters'."

「這些在沙堆中的機器人是我姊姊們的東西。」

"Those robots in the sand are my sisters."

「這些在沙堆中的機器人是我姊姊們。」

When showing possession, the apostrophe belongs next to the noun that owns or possesses something.

當要表達所有物時，在名詞旁的撇號表示擁有或屬於某樣東西。

You need to use the proper screwdriver to fix it.

你必須使用合適的螺絲起子來修理它。

So if Lucy needs to get her robots under control before they cause mayhem, those dangerous creatures would be "Lucy's robots."

如果 Lucy 要在她的機器人造成恐慌前管好它們的話，這些危險的東西就是 "Lucy's robots."(「Lucy的機器人。」)

Would we write "Lucas' robots" or "Lucas's robots"?

我們會寫 "Lucas' robots" 還是 "Lucas's robots"？

And what if Lucas gave his robots to the Robinsons family?

又如果 Lucas 把他的機器人交給了 Robinsons 一家人？

Would it be "The Robinsons' robots," or "The Robinsons's robots"?

那會是 "The Robinsons' robots" 還是 "The Robinsons's robots"？

The truth is, even grammar nerds disagree on the right thing to do.

事實上，就算是很在意文法的人也不清楚該怎麼標。

The use of 's after a proper noun ending in s is a style issue, not a hard and fast grammar rule.

在專有名詞的結尾是 "s" 的情況下，用 " 's " 的用法是好不好看的問題，不是好不好寫或好不好懂的文法問題。

What to do with my life after graduating provided me with a real conundrum. 

對他來說，畢業後直接去工作還是準備考研究所是個大難題。

It's a conundrum without a simple answer.

Professional writers solve this problem by learning what's considered correct for a publication, and doing that.

專業作家用他們覺得正確的寫法解決了這個問題，寫做 " s' "。

The important thing is to pick one style and stick with it throughout a piece of writing.

重要的是選用一種寫法，並整份文章上就用那種寫法。

Certain pronouns already have possession built in and don't need an apostrophe.

有些代名詞已經有所有物的意思，那就不需要再加上撇號。

Remembering that will help you avoid one of the trickiest snags in English grammar: its vs. it's.

記得這點將會讓你不會犯下英文文法上最容易犯的錯誤："its" 跟 "it's"。

"It's" only take an apostrophe when it's a contraction for "it is" or "it has."

"it's" 有撇號，代表 "it is" 或 "it has"。

If you can replace "it's" with one of those two phrases, use the apostrophe.

如果你要把上述的兩種寫法換成 "it's"，那就加上撇號。

If you're showing possession, leave it out.

如果你是要表達所有物，那就不用加了。

Her reply to your invitation to the party is straightforward and obvious--no.

她對參加那個派對邀請的答覆非常直截了當和明顯。她說不要。

He is a straightforward people and always tells it like it is. 

他是一個坦率的人， 總是說實話。

Otherwise, contractions are pretty straightforward.

The apostrophe stands in for missing letters, and lets common phrases squash into a single word.

撇號是為了表示省略的字，讓常寫的片語縮短成一個詞彙。

In rare cases, you can have a double contraction, though those generally aren't accepted in writing, with the exception of dialogue.

少數情況下，你會看到兩個撇號一起出現，然而通常寫作上是不允許這樣的寫法的，除了在一段對話中才可以這樣寫。

So it's possessive,  it's often followed by s's, and it's sometimes tricky when it comes to its usage.

所以如果是表示所有物，那通常會加 " 's "，而當遇到 "its" 的用法時會需要小心。

介紹單引號的正確使用方式。 看完後可到以下網站，選取 "90: Apostrophes" ，測試一下自己是否真正了解了。Good luck! http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm學這些英文用法：TED-Ed,撇號,機器人,標記,姊姊,縮寫,文法,片語,詞彙,複數,情況,換成,名詞,表達,逗號,對話,問題,單數,使用,代名詞,清楚,一家人,複習,翅膀,寫作,字母,交給,看到,作家,結尾,好看,明確,文章,屬於,麻煩,專業,代表,允許,危險,遇到,位置,解決,直接,比較,正確,事實,改變,重要,看看,所有物,寫法,用法,沙堆,縮短成,專有名詞,表示,少數,盤旋,省略,意思...