Banana English

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Sambodia

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Joined
Sep 5, 2011
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
French
Home Country
Cambodia
Current Location
France
Hello!
In the Sentence Block exercise of Bananaenglish, there is this sentence:

-The new optician's next to the bank will open next friday.

I don't understand why there is an apostrophe in the word optician.

Please explain

Sambodia
 
Hello Sambodia

There is an apostrophe in "optician'" because it's indicating something possessive. By using "optician's" in the sentence, it is understood that the optician's store, or clinic, or perhaps his office is next to the bank and will open next Friday.

John
PS: Do not worry that you are confused by this - so are many native speakers:). Also, what's with the title Banana English?
 
Last edited:
Not a teacher.

I was taught that this possessive genitive-s is used after „at” and "to" plus shops/businesses and people’s places:

I went to the doctor’s [surgery].
He bought it at the baker’s [shop].
Jack should go to the hairdresser’s [salon].
We went to Aunty Mary’s [place] for dinner.
She stayed at her sister’s [place] over the Easter break.

The […] is implied.
 
Thank you for your helpful replies
Sambodia
 
Because no one has pointed this out, I want to make sure you know that "Friday" should have a capital F.
 
Sorry everyone - I thought I edited that at 18h30.

John
 
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