Nouns have a possessive form. We use it
to show ownership.
To show the possessive form, put an apostrophe (') and an s – 's – after a
singular noun
Examples:
o
This is my dog and that is Tom's cat.
o
The child is pulling the cow's tail.
o
Everybody's shoes must be left outside
the door.
o
We all like the church's teaching on
forgiveness.
Use an apostrophe and an s ('s) after plural nouns that do not end in s to make the possessive form
Examples:
o
The plane's tail section had broken off.
o
This is the second attempt on the
president's life.
o
Some people's houses in the
neighbourhood are bigger than ours.
o
He cut off the mice's tails.
When making plural possessive nouns which end with an s, add only an
apostrophe
Examples:
o
The girls' mother is taller than the
boys' mother.
o
Their wives' parents were present in the
Christmas celebrations.
o
The strong winds destroyed all the
villagers' houses.
o
He had three days' moustache growth
drooping over his mouth.
Two possessive forms ('s)may appear one after the other
Examples:
o
She is Jim's brother's girlfriend.
o
This is Tom's car and that is Tom's
father's car.
o
Jane's dog's bushy tail wags furiously
when she arrives home.
When two nouns/names that are joined together are joint owners,
the possessive form should take an 's after the second name only
Examples:
o
On that hill is Jack and Jill's house.
(The house belongs to both Jack and Jill)
o
Paul and Paula's mother is a doctor.
When two nouns (names) that are joined together have different
ownership, each will need an apostrophe s ('s) added
Examples:
o
Adam's and Eve's cars are parked one
behind the other.
o
The police are keeping watch on the
suspect's and his accomplice's houses.
When a name ends in s, the possessive form can take either an apostrophe
and an s ('s) or only an apostrophe
Examples:
o
This is a portrait of King Charles's wife.
o
This is a portrait of King Charles' wife.
o
My uncle James's factory
was burnt down last night.
o
My uncle James' factory
was burnt down last night.
Only an apostrophe and an s ('s) is used when the place of business is
understood and thus not stated
Examples:
o
He went to the barber's to have his hair
cut.
o
She was at the butcher's when I called
her.
When an apostrophe is not used
When the word its is
used, it indicates possession. Inserting an apostrophe so that it becomes it's gives
it a different meaning; it's is a contraction of it is.
It's your turn to make the dinner. = It
is your turn to make the dinner.
To show possession, do not use an apostrophe
Examples:
o
The dog is licking its paw.
(The paw belongs to the dog as indicated by the possessive its.)
o
It flapped its wings
and flew off.
o Their house has its own swimming pool.
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