Possessive 's/'s
Elementary (A2)en
Possessive ’s / s’
Possessive ’s / s’
In this lesson, you will expand your knowledge of the possessive. You will learn how to show ownership for singular and plural nouns, names ending in s, compound nouns, and understand common tricky situations.
1. Quick Revision – Possessive ’s
Before we start, remember the basics:
- Use ’s to show ownership for one person or animal.
Example: “Maria’s bag is on the table.” → The bag belongs to Maria.
- Use of for things, not people.
Example: “The cover of the book is red.” instead of “The book’s cover is red.”
- Be careful: ’s can also mean “is”.
Example: “Tom’s happy today.” → Tom is happy today.
2. Possessive for Plural Nouns
When a plural noun ends in -s, you usually add only an apostrophe after the s.
Structure: plural noun + ’ + thing
Examples:
- “The teachers’ lounge is very comfortable.” → The lounge belongs to the teachers.
- “The cats’ toys are all over the floor.” → The toys belong to the cats.
Tip: If the plural does not end in -s, add ’s as usual.
Examples:
Examples:
- “The children’s books are on the shelf.” → The books belong to the children.
- “The men’s room is at the end of the hallway.” → The room is for men.
3. Names Ending in S
When a name ends in s, both forms are usually correct: ’s or just ’. Some style guides prefer adding the extra s, others just the apostrophe.
Examples:
- “James’s bike is new.” or “James’ bike is new.” → Both are correct.
- “Chris’s dog is very friendly.” or “Chris’ dog is very friendly.” → Both are acceptable.
Tip: For spoken English, it usually sounds like /ɪz/ anyway.
4. Compound Nouns and Phrases
If ownership is shown for a compound noun or a group of words, add ’s at the end of the last word.
4. Compound Nouns and Phrases
If ownership is shown for a compound noun or a group of words, add ’s at the end of the last word.
Examples:
- “My sister-in-law’s house is very big.” → The house of my sister-in-law.
- “The queen of England’s crown is very expensive.” → The crown of the queen of England.
- “My best friend’s father works in a hospital.” → The father of my best friend.
Tip: Always add the ’s to the main owner in the phrase.
5. Possessive for Multiple Owners
If two or more people own the same thing, add the ’s to the last person only.
Examples:
- “Tom and Jerry’s house is very large.” → They share the same house.
- “Anna and Ben’s car is parked outside.” → The car belongs to both Anna and Ben.
If each person owns separate things, add ’s to each name.
Examples:
Examples:
- “Tom’s and Jerry’s houses are on the same street.” → Tom has one house, Jerry has another.
- “Anna’s and Ben’s cars are both red.” → Anna has a red car, Ben has a red car too.
6. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Don’t confuse possessive ’s with plural s
→ Plural: “The dogs are outside.”
→ Possessive: “The dog’s ball is outside.”
2. Be careful with names ending in s
→ “Jess’s book” → Correct
→ “Jess book” → Incorrect
→ Possessive: “The dog’s ball is outside.”
2. Be careful with names ending in s
→ “Jess’s book” → Correct
→ “Jess book” → Incorrect
6. Easy Way to Remember
- ’s → one person/animal, singular nouns, time, or phrases
- s’ → plural nouns ending in s
- ’s or s’ → names ending in s (both often correct)
- Add ’s to the last word → for compound nouns or shared ownership
Remember:
The possessive ’s is very common.
It can show:
- Ownership (Anna’s book)
- Plural ownership (teachers’ lounge)
- Time or measure (a week’s holiday)
- Shared items (Tom and Jerry’s house)
Tip: Focus on the noun that owns something and decide if it’s singular, plural, or part of a compound. Then apply the correct ’s or s’ rule.
Related Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with words related to this grammar topic