Quantifiers are words that express amounts without expressing specific numbers. They answer the questions “how many?” and “how much?” Quantifiers can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns are those which can be counted with specific numbers. Nouns that cannot be counted in this way are uncountable nouns. For example, English is a noun, yet there is no such thing as one English or five Englishes.

Quantifiers with countable and uncountable nouns take the place of numbers and instead express an approximate amount. Examples of quantifiers include:
many
(a) few
much
(a) little
plenty
several
a couple
most

Some quantifiers can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. “Enough” and “plenty” are examples of these. You can have enough time and enough pencils or plenty of time and plenty of pencils.

Certain quantifiers only make sense with countable nouns. “Many” and “a few,” for example, only work with words that can be counted. You can have many or a few pencils but not many or a few times.

“Little” and “a little” are examples of quantifiers that can only be used with uncountable nouns. You can have little or a little time, but not little or a little pencils.

A quality piece of writing has the power to capture and hold a reader’s attention. Unfortunately, a reader can easily be distracted by punctuation mistakes. That’s why it’s important to learn when to use apostrophes. In short, knowing the apostrophes rules will allow a writer to convey his or her message without punctuation errors.

The first occasion concerning when to use apostrophes is when a writer is dealing with possessive words. Possessive apostrophes are used to indicate ownership of something. Ownership can apply to a great number of things. Some examples of possessive apostrophes:

• There is my friend’s house. This apostrophes examples conveys that the friend is the owner of the house.
• That is my dog’s collar. Who possesses the collar? The dog.
• We brought our child’s suitcase.
• That is the city’s motto.
• The book is hers. In this example, the possessive word is hers and has no apostrophe with it. The words hers, its, ours, and yours don’t contain apostrophes, but are still possessive.
• We studied Jesus’ teachings. This apostrophes after s example is also an exception to the basic rule. There is no additional s after the name of Jesus, but the word is indicating possession of the teachings.
• There is Thomas’s car. In this apostrophes examples, an apostrophe is added after the s along with an additional letter s. The use of apostrophes after s is often seen in conncection to common names.

The next opportunity relating to the use of apostrophes occurs when there’s a contraction. In a contraction, an apostrophe stands in for a word. Not surprisingly, many authors use contractions in an effort to make their writing flow better. Some examples of apostrophes used to make contractions are:

• That’s my new swimming pool. The word that’s is a contraction with an apostrophe that stands in for the words, “that is.”
• We’re going to the amusement park. The word we’re is a contraction that stands in for the words, “we are.”
• They’re going to visit a relative. The word they’re is a contraction that means, “they are.”
• It’s twelve o’clock midnight. The contraction it’s stands for the words, “it is.”

A writer must take care to use a contraction only in appropriate situations. For example:
• Incorrect: A cat cleans it’s fur. This sentence means, “A cat cleans it is fur.” Certainly, that statement would confuse a reader.
• Correct: A cat cleans its fur. There is no need for an apostrophe in this sentence.

Misusing apostrophes rules can change the meaning of a word. Furthermore, it can confuse a reader as to the writer’s intentions. Consequently, it’s helpful to know when it’s appropriate to use this punctuation. The proper use of punctuation can improve the clarity of a piece of writing.

There are a number of easily confusable words in English, sometimes in speech and often in writing. The differences between aide and aid is very clear once you know it, and the same goes for adopt and adapt.

Aide and aid are often mistaken for one another, simply because they are pronounced the same way and spelled so similarly. However, they are very different, and when you know their definitions the debate of aide vs aid will be nonexistent. Aide is a noun, meaning a helper or assistant. Aid, on the other hand, can either be a verb, meaning to give help or assistance; or a noun, referring to help or assistance given. A nurse’s aide (noun) will give aid (noun) to a patient; she can also aid (verb) in relief efforts.

Adopt vs adapt is a little more subtle, as both are verbs. Adapt can either mean to take something and make it suitable for one’s needs or circumstances, or to alter oneself in order to be better suited for circumstances.
For example, a recent immigrant who fits in to his new culture can adapt, ie. change his actions or speak a new language, or a monkey can adapt a stick to use as a tool.
Adopt means to take something as one’s own. A couple can adopt a baby, or a convert can adopt a new set of religious beliefs.

Although it is easy to see why these words are confused, it is equally easy to tell them apart when you know what they mean.