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Possessive Case of Nouns Rules and Examples Grammarly

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44 views1 page

Possessive Case of Nouns Rules and Examples Grammarly

Uploaded by

Mariana Serra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Possessive Case of Nouns:


Rules and Examples
Grammarly
Updated on September 16, 2022 · Grammar

The possessive case shows ownership. With


the addition of ’s (or sometimes just the
apostrophe), a noun can change from a simple
person, place, or thing to a person, place, or
thing that owns something. There are a few
different ways to form the possessive of a
noun. We’ll discuss these ways below.

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If the noun doesn’t end with an s, add ’s to the


end of the noun. See the following examples:

Example

This is Mary and her dog. The dog is Mary’s pet;


Mary is not the dog’s pet.

Example

This thick curtain is capable of shutting out the


summer sun’s heat and light.

Example

This is the way to the men’s room.

Example

She got a job in the children’s section of the library.

Do we add another s for the possessive form


of a name ending with s? Which is correct,
Chris’s chair or Chris’ chair? James’s car or
James’ car? Actually, both ways are correct. If
a proper name ends with an s, you can add
just the apostrophe or an apostrophe and an
s. See the examples below for an illustration
of this type of possessive noun.

Correct

You’re sitting in Chris’ chair.

Correct

You’re sitting in Chris’s chair.

Correct

Have you seen James’ car?

Correct

Have you seen James’s car?

Correct

Where is Jess’ book bag?

Correct

Where is Jess’s book bag?

Correct

I’m in Ms. Jones’ class this year.

Correct

I’m in Ms. Jones’s class this year.

But when you have a plural noun that ends in


s, add just the apostrophe. This is also true
when you have a proper noun that’s plural.

Example

This is the boys’ bedroom.

Example

My parents’ house is a lovely old one.

Example

The scissors’ handles just snapped off.

Example

The Jeffersons’ yard is always beautifully


landscaped.

Here’s a tip: Should you write student’s or


students’?

When you have an ordinary noun like


student, you can tell whether the
possessive form refers to one student
or many students by looking at where
the apostrophe is. When you’re talking
about one student, add apostrophe +
s:

Example

The student’s favorite subject was science.

In the sentence above, we are talking


about the favorite subject of one
student. When you’re talking about
many students, add an apostrophe.

Example

The students’ favorite subject was science.

In the sentence above, we are talking


about several students who all share
the same favorite subject.

If you have a compound noun (for example,


when you’re talking about two people who
jointly own one thing), change only the last
noun to the possessive. The examples below
illustrate this usage of the possessive case.

Example

Mike and Amanda’s new loft apartment is really


neat.

Example

Please tell Annie and Mary’s mother that they’ll be


late getting home from school.

If the possessor is a building, an object, or a


piece of furniture, you don’t need to add an
apostrophe to show possession. See the
examples below for reference:

Incorrect

The maid cleaned the hotel’s room.

Correct

The maid cleaned the hotel room.

Incorrect

We met in the office’s lobby.

Correct

We met in the office lobby.

Incorrect

Shut the car’s door.

Correct

Shut the car door.

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