Most regular nouns can be
turned into a possessive form to show ownership. Here are some important rules
to know before converting a noun to a possessive noun.
- When the noun is singular
and does not end with an s, the possessive is formed by adding ’s
(apostrophe + s) to the noun. For example: the king’s crown, the boy’s
hair.
- When the noun is singular
and ends with an s, the modern approach is to add just the apostrophe to
form the possessive. For example: Thomas' chair, the bus’ wheels.
Some people prefer to use the traditional approach of adding both the
apostrophe and the s after the noun. For example: Thomas's chair, the
bus’s wheels.
- When the noun is plural and
does not end with an s, the possessive is formed by adding 's (apostrophe +
s) to the noun. For example: women’s club, mice's cheese.
- When the noun is plural and
ends with an s, the possessive is formed by adding just the apostrophe.
For example: girls’ school, horses’ tails.
- When the noun consists of multiple
words, the 's is added only to the last word. For example: the President
of Australia’s visit, the Statue of Liberty's torch.
- Sometimes, possessives are
too wordy and awkward to use. When this happens, use the preposition “of”
to show the possession. For example:
the brothers-in-law’s hobbies → the hobbies of the
brothers-in-law,
the president’s cabinet’s decision → the decision of the
president’s cabinet.