Overview
This lecture explains the rules for forming possessives in English, including when to use apostrophes and how to choose between different expressions of possession.
Basic Rules for Possessives
- For singular nouns, add apostrophe + s ('s) to show possession (e.g., the king's guard).
- If a singular noun ends with s, add either just an apostrophe or apostrophe + s (e.g., James' pen or James's pen).
- Plural nouns ending with s take only an apostrophe (e.g., the students' classroom).
- Irregular plural nouns not ending in s take apostrophe + s (e.g., the children's toys).
Multiple Owners
- If two or more people share one thing, add possessive only to the last noun (e.g., Sarah and John's wedding).
- If each person owns something separately, make each noun possessive (e.g., Lisa's and Mark's bikes).
Complex Proper Nouns
- For multi-word nouns, add possessive to the last word (e.g., sister-in-law's advice).
Common Mistakes: Its vs. It's
- "It's" with apostrophe is a contraction for "it is" or "it has," not a possessive.
- "Its" without apostrophe is the possessive form (e.g., its wings).
Possessive Pronouns
- Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, hers, theirs) never take an apostrophe.
Possessives with Non-Person Nouns
- Institutions, groups, places, and time can be possessive (e.g., Harvard's test, a day's work).
- Most inanimate objects or abstract nouns use "of" or compound noun form (e.g., the legs of the table / the table legs).
Preference in Speech and Writing
- Native speakers prefer the noun + noun (compound noun) form for inanimate objects (e.g., TV remote, not TV's remote).
- Some inanimate objects like ships may be personified and use the possessive (e.g., the ship's crew).
Quiz & Practice
- Quiz questions test understanding of possessive rules.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Possessive — shows ownership or relation, usually by adding 's or just an apostrophe.
- Apostrophe — punctuation mark used to indicate possession or contractions.
- Inanimate Object — a thing that is not alive (e.g., table, rock).
- Abstract Noun — a noun denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Download and complete the free PDF worksheet for more examples and practice.
- Review quiz questions to test your understanding.