THESE ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT USES OF ‘S OR S’

‘S - IS USED TO SHOW THAT SOMETHING BELONGS TO OR IS ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEONE.

Ex: Peter’s satchel // Jennifer’s pencil // John’s dog

‘S – IT IS ALSO USED WITH ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE, COUNTRIES, PLACES, EXPRESSIONS

OF TIME.

EX: The government’s policy // Britain’s symbols // yesterday’s newspapers

S’ – WITH PLURAL NOUNS ENDING IN –S ONLY THE APOSTROPHE (‘) IS USED.

Ex: My parents’ opinion // My neighbours’ dog // the Carters’ room

WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE POSSESSOR THE ‘S IS PUT AFTER THE LAST NAME

Ex: Mary and Peter’s house // Charlie and Maggie’s backyard // Julie and
John’s car

THE ‘S OR S’ FORM IS USED ON ITS OWN WHEN REFERRING TO A HOUSE, A SHOP, A CHURCH.

Ex: …. At my mother’s // …… at the baker’s // …. St Paul’s

WHEN THE NOUN IS FOLLOWED BY A DESCRIPTIVE PHRASE OR CLAUSE, THE STRUCTURE NOUN + OF +
NOUN IS USED

Ex: “Revenge” was the motto of the rebels who took part in the
demonstration.

1. Use the apostrophe with or without - s – and join the two nouns
sometimes you have to use the structure noun + of + noun:

a. Yesterday / paper mentioned some irregularities in the

campaigns.
b. Michael / expensive car
c. The president / family gave him their support
d. Mr. and Mrs. Rowse / wedding was celebrated in Hong Kong
e. Next week / meeting has been cancelled
f. The mother / Anna

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 g. The new manager / company
h. Jill has got a / three week holiday
i. The company success / is due to their excellent staff
j. The ground floor / the building
k. The children / Don and Mary
l. The wedding / the friend / Helen
m. The birthday / my father
n. Month / the beginning
o. The jacket / that man

Key:

a. Yesterday’s paper mentioned some irregularities in the

campaigns.
b. Michael’s expensive car
c. The president’s family gave him their support
d. Mr. and Mrs. Rowse’s wedding was celebrated in Hong Kong
e. Next week’s meeting has been cancelled
f. Anna’s mother
g. The company’s new manager
h. Jill has got a three week’s holiday
i. The company’s success is due to their excellent staff
j. The ground floor of the building
k. Don and Mary’s children
l. Helen’s friend’s wedding.
m. My father’s birthday
n. the beginning of the month
o. That man’s jacket

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