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
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