POSSESSIVES

POSSESSIVE ‘S AND OF
 POSSESSIVE ‘S INDICATES POSSESSION OR OWNERSHIP.

It helps indicate when

something belongs to
someone.

For example: I am the

girl’s bear

Noun + ‘ + S
RULE #1: SINGULAR NOUNS

◼ Add apostrophe and ‘s’ after the noun.

◼ Example: Ana Ana’s
Ana’s car is in the garage.
RULE #2: SINGULAR NOUNS ENDING WITH ‘S’

◼ We can add ‘ + S or add an apostrophe after

the S.
◼ Example: Carlos Carlos’s or Carlos’
Carlos's room is very big.
◼ In this case the pronunciation changes to /IZ/
RULE #3: PLURAL NOUNS

◼ Add an apostrophe at the end of the word.

◼ Example: Horses Horses’
The horses’ tails are very long.
RULE #4: IRREGULAR PLURAL NOUNS.

◼ Add ‘S at the end.

◼ Example: Children Children’s
The children’s teacher is sick.
RULE #5: MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP

A) Shared ownership: when two or more

nouns share possession.
Mark and Bill’s mother is Mary.
RULE #5: MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP

B) When multiple nouns DO NOT share

ownership.
These are Lucy’s and Ricky’s bikes.
RULE #6: PEOPLE’S HOUSES

◼ Use name / person + ‘s to mean that person’s

house or flat.
I’m staying at Jack’s this evening.
I’ll go to my mother’s before dinner, ok?
◼ Use it as well for jobs to refer to their shop /
business
I’m going to the doctor’s after class.
How to make a possessive noun:
PRACTICE

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE ACTIVITY

OF TO SHOW POSSESSION

After a /an or this /that

◼ use noun + of + possessive pronoun.
A friend of mine has written a book.

◼ use noun + of + name / noun + ‘s

This is the best cake of Mary’s.
OWN

◼ Use possessive adjective + own to emphasise

the possession.
I live in my own flat.
◼ We can also use of + possessive adjective +
own.
They have a garden of their own.