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MrsKellyBride
Mommy of 3!
Member since 8/06 1617 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Grammar Question
I am ordering a personalized sign to hang up in my house for the holidays. Should it read:
The Smiths
-or-
The Smith's
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Posted 10/23/07 4:02 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
JenBenMen
party of five
Member since 9/06 11343 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Grammar Question
The first one
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:03 PM |
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MrsKellyBride
Mommy of 3!
Member since 8/06 1617 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Grammar Question
Posted by JenBenMen
The first one
The company is advertising it as:
The Smith's
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:04 PM |
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PotofLuck06
Our Baby Boy Is Here!!!
Member since 11/06 13241 total posts
Name:
Betsy
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Re: Grammar Question
Could you say "The Smith Family"
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:06 PM |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: Grammar Question
Posted by MrsKellyBride
The Smiths
Means: The Smith Family
The Smith's
Means: The Smith Family's house.
I would go with "The Smith Family" or "The Smiths"
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:08 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Grammar Question
"The Smith's" is possessive. You need to have a noun after it to be correct (The Smith's house, for example). "The Smiths" is plural, meaning more than one Smith resides there.
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:10 PM |
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JessieQ
Rest in Peace baby Rogan
Member since 6/07 1122 total posts
Name:
Jessica
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Re: Grammar Question
Posted by Whamtastic
Posted by MrsKellyBride
The Smiths
Means: The Smith Family
The Smith's
Means: The Smith Family's house.
I would go with "The Smith Family" or "The Smiths"
I agree, the apostrophe makes it possesive, like "The Smith's house," but you probably just want "The Smiths"
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:11 PM |
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MrsKellyBride
Mommy of 3!
Member since 8/06 1617 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Grammar Question
Oh wow...
Here is their advertisement...
Image Attachment(s):
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| Posted 10/23/07 4:48 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11489 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Grammar Question
The Smiths's
They suggest it with an apostrophe 's' b/c they assume that you will hang it out and the house will be behind it or something. It is kind of implying that it is the Smiths's house.
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| Posted 10/23/07 5:42 PM |
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Goldi0218
My miracles!
Member since 12/05 23902 total posts
Name:
Leslie
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Re: Grammar Question
Posted by klingklang77
The Smiths's
They suggest it with an apostrophe 's' b/c they assume that you will hang it out and the house will be behind it or something. It is kind of implying that it is the Smiths's house.
I understand exactly what you are saying but in that case, it should read "The Smiths' "
From Englishplus.com:
"To make a plural noun possessive, simply add an apostrophe to the word. If the plural does not end in an s, then add an apostrophe plus s.
Examples: The girls' dresses
(The dresses belonging to the girls.)
The Wilsons' house
(The Wilsons live in the house.)
The men's room
(Plural does not end in s.) "
Message edited 10/23/2007 5:49:15 PM.
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| Posted 10/23/07 5:48 PM |
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ladybug8
LIF Adult
Member since 3/07 2660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grammar Question
Yes, Smiths' is the plural possessive.
*I guess it depends on the reason for the sign. I think that those signs usually mean "The Smiths live here." so the plural form would be correct. However, some people might want to say, "This is the Smiths' house." which would mean that all the Smiths own the house.
Message edited 10/23/2007 10:06:05 PM.
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| Posted 10/23/07 6:02 PM |
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firsttimer
Member since 5/07 1532 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grammar Question
Smith's
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| Posted 10/23/07 6:04 PM |
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NewYawkah
2012--A year of new beginnings
Member since 5/05 4402 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grammar Question
The Smiths.
If you put the Smith's, it shows possession, and makes the reader feel like something is missing... I said in my head, The Smith's WHAT? The Smith's house? Car? Door?
The Smiths means that there is more than one Smith living there.
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| Posted 10/23/07 7:04 PM |
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zaidam
*************
Member since 1/07 1519 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grammar Question
I got a similar item for Christmas last year from a colleague and it said "The Smith's", but I agree with what everyone suggests about getting "The Smiths".
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| Posted 10/23/07 7:10 PM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Grammar Question
The Smiths
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| Posted 10/23/07 7:29 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11489 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Grammar Question
Posted by Goldi0218
Posted by klingklang77
The Smiths's
They suggest it with an apostrophe 's' b/c they assume that you will hang it out and the house will be behind it or something. It is kind of implying that it is the Smiths's house.
I understand exactly what you are saying but in that case, it should read "The Smiths' "
From Englishplus.com:
"To make a plural noun possessive, simply add an apostrophe to the word. If the plural does not end in an s, then add an apostrophe plus s.
Examples: The girls' dresses
(The dresses belonging to the girls.)
The Wilsons' house
(The Wilsons live in the house.)
The men's room
(Plural does not end in s.) "
Ah I am confused...
I thought the surname was Smiths. As in 'Leslie Smiths'. But even then I think it would be Smiths' b/c the Smiths' house would be owned by plural Smiths'. Or whatever. Possessive s'es always get me when it gets to that stage. I wrote that at 7 AM. I was clearly not thinking straight. I had to teach that 3 months ago and I really had to study the rules. I still get screwed up by that one. I don't know why I can never remember the rule. I should know better I teach English 
Ask me anything about gerunds vs. infinitives and I would have no problem answering that one.
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| Posted 10/24/07 7:46 AM |
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