How the Possessive Apostrophe Evolved From Old English

Khan Academy

This educational video explores the fascinating linguistic history behind one of English grammar's most common yet confusing features: the possessive apostrophe (e.g., "King's hat"). Through a casual, conversational lecture accompanied by blackboard-style illustrations, the narrators trace the evolution of English from a complex, gendered language with case endings (Old English) to the simplified Modern English we speak today. The video specifically examines how the Old English genitive ending "-es" survived while others vanished, and how a historical misunderstanding involving the phrase "his hat" likely cemented the use of the apostrophe. The content covers key linguistic concepts including grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), case endings (specifically the genitive case), the impact of the Norman Invasion on English grammar, and the "Saxon Possessive." It also delves into comparative linguistics, contrasting English usage with its cousin languages—Dutch, German, and Danish—to show how related languages handled similar grammatical evolutions differently. For educators, this video serves as an excellent tool to demystify arbitrary-seeming grammar rules by providing historical context. It helps students understand that language is fluid and evolving rather than static. Classroom applications include units on the history of the English language, etymology, comparative linguistics, or advanced grammar lessons focused on understanding the "why" behind punctuation rules rather than just memorizing them.