Nouns have a possessive form which is used to show
ownership. Such nouns are called possessive nouns. They show ownership by
adding an apostrophe and an s ( 's ) or just
an apostrophe to a noun.
Apostrophe (') and an s ('s)
after singular noun to show possessive form.
Place an apostrophe and an s after
a singular noun to show it is the owner of the noun.
Examples:
o
That is Tom's cat. (Tom is the
owner of the cat.)
o
Who has taken my coffee cup’s cover?
o
The child is pulling the cow's tail.
o Everybody's
shoes must be left outside the door.
.
o
All the students like their professor's voice.
o
The plane's tail section had
broken off.
o
This is the fifth failed attempt on the President's life.
o
The information led to the arrest of the chairman’s kidnappers.
Apostrophe (') and an s ('s)
after irregular plural noun to show possessive form.
If a noun is plural in an irregular way, add an
apostrophe and an s to the end of the plural noun.
Examples:
o
He cut off the mice's tails.
o
I stepped on one of the children’s toys
and fell..
o
They are renovating the elderly women's home.
o
The group's latest song has topped
the charts for two weeks.
Only apostrophe is added to
regular plural noun.
If a noun is plural and ends in an s, add only an
apostrophe to the end of the plural noun. No s needs to follow
the apostrophe.
Examples:
o
Some girls' hair is shorter than
some boys' hair.
o
Their wives' parents shook each
other warmly by the hand.
o
The strong winds destroyed many of the villagers' houses.
o
The lambs' tails are docked (= cut
short) for hygiene reasons.
o
I haven’t settled the last three months’ telephone
bills.
o
He had a three weeks' moustache
growth drooping over his mouth.
o
The holy books’ differences of the
religions caused their followers to fight.
Apostrophe or no apostrophe
after noun ends in s.
When a proper noun ends in s, the possessive form
can take either an apostrophe and an 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.
o
One of Thomas’ toes is
broken.
Possessive noun not followed
by noun.
So far, all possessive nouns are followed by a noun
as shown above. But if a noun (for example, a place of business) is understood,
a possessive noun with its apostrophe and s is not followed by a noun if the meaning is
clear.
Examples:
o
He went to the barber's to have
his hair cut.
o
She was at the butcher's when I
called her.
o
His pet dog’s tail is shorter than his cat’s.
o
I met her queuing at Long and Short’s this
morning.
o
His stomach is bloated from excessive drinking, but
his brother’s is flat.
Two possessive nouns one after
the other.
Sometimes two possessive nouns appearing one after
the other may be necessary to indicate double ownership
Examples:
o
She is Jim's twin brother's girlfriend.
o
This is Tom's father's car.
o
Every night, your TV is as loud as the neighbour’s
dog’s nightly barking.
o Jane's dog's
bushy tail wags furiously when she arrives home.
.
Apostrophe indicates joint
ownership.
When two nouns are joint owners of another that
follows, only the second noun is in the possessive form of an apostrophe and
an s.
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. .
Apostrophes indicate different
owners.
When two nouns are owners of different assets, each
of the two possessive nouns needs an apostrophe and an s.
Examples:
o
Adam's and Eve's cars are
parked one behind the other.
(There are two cars – one belongs to Adam while the
other belongs to Eve.)
o
The police are keeping watch on the suspect's
and his accomplice's houses
Compound possessive nouns.
If it is a hyphenated compound noun, add the
apostrophe s ( ‘s ) to the last word.
Examples:
o
My father-in-law's car hit a van the other day.
If a compound
noun includes a personal pronoun, all of them will have to be in the possessive
form. This is done by adding the apostrophe s ( 's )
to the noun and making the pronoun a possessive personal pronoun.
o
George's and my school
is on the other side of the river.
o
Take those that are Janet's and yours.
Using 'of', not apostrophe.
Use of to show possession, instead
of an apostrophe.
Examples:
o
A big fat black crow perched on the roof of
his house.
o
(Not: A big fat black crow perched on
his house’s roof.)
o
Three fat passengers sat in the back of the
car.
o
(Not: Three fat passengers sat in the car’s
back.)
o
There is some dirt on the top of your desk.
o
(Not: There is some dirt on your desk’s
top.)
o
The next morning, they reached the top of
the mountain.
o
(Not: The next morning, they reached
the mountain’s top.)
