The Learning Commons

Apostrophes & Possessives

 

Use an apostrophe to indicate that a noun is possessive.

How to tell if a noun is a possesive:

  • try stating possession using the word 'of' --the roots of the tree, the shirt of the girl, the leash of the dog, etc. If this kind of construction works, the noun is possessive.

When to add -'s:

  • If the noun does not end in -s, add -'s

Example: I thanked her for finding the children's toys.

  • If the noun is singular and ends in -s, add -'s

Example: Charles's bike has a flat tire.


(NOTE: if pronunciation would be awkward with the added -'s, then only add an apostrophe. EX: Sophocles' plays were among those I saw in London.)

When to add only an apostrophe:

  • If a noun is plural and ends in -s, add only an apostrophe.

Example: Both dogs' bowls were made of metal.

Joint possession:

  • To show joint possession, use -'s (or -s') with the last noun only; to show individual possession, make all nouns possessive.

Examples:

  • Have you seen Nina and Andy's new car?
  • Dar's and Ani's new CDs are both really good.

(In the first sentence, Nina and Andy jointly own the car. In the second sentence, Dar and Ani each have new CDs.)

Compound nouns:

  • If a noun is compound, use -'s (or-s') with the last element.

Example: Her mother-in-law's corporation won the lawsuit.

Indefinite pronouns:

(everyone, someone, no one, something, anyone)

  • Use an apostrophe and -s to indicate possession.

Example: Someone's book is in my bag.

Contractions:

  • Use an apostrophe to show omitted letters in contractions.

Example: I can't wait for Rex Manning day!

Pluralizing numbers, letters, etc:

  • An apostrophe pluralizes numbers when they are mentioned as numbers, letters when they are mentioned as letters, words mentioned as words, and abbreviations.

Examples:

  • The sale-priced items were marked with red X's.
  • The baby-sitter was tired of hearing the child's no's.
  • The R.A. checked all the I.D.'s

Do not use apostrophes :

  • With nouns that are not possessive

  • In the possessive pronouns its, whose, his, hers, ours, yours, and theirs.

A special note about its and it's :

  • Its (no apostrophe) is possessive.
    The dog licked its bowl.

  • It's (apostrophe) is a contraction for it is.
    It's none of my business.

Grammarland

 

Clauses

Apostrophes & Possessives

Sentence Fragments

Dangling Modifiers

Coordination & Subordination

Commas, Dashes, & Parentheses

Parallelism

Subject/Verb Agreement

Semicolons

Comma Splices and Fused Sentences