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Using
Apostrophes to Show Possession
Use an apostrophe to indicate that a noun is possessive.
Usually,
possessive nouns indicate ownership.
Example:
The dog belongs to Bob. This is Bob's dog.
Sometimes,
however, "ownership" is only loosely implied:
Example: I
was fired after the long day's work.
Spanish is Rick's native language.
The tree's roots are making the sidewalk
crack.
To know
whether a noun is possessive, try putting it
into an of phrase (it might not sound great,
but it should make sense).
Examples:
the dog of Bob; the work of a long day; the native language of Rick; the
roots of the tree.
'S, s', s's? which one should I use? How can I know?
If the
noun does not end in -s, add -'s. (This
applies to both singular and plural nouns.)
Example:
Roy climbed out on the driver's side.
Thank you for refunding the children’s money.
If the
noun is singular and ends in -s, add -'s.
Example:
Louis’s sister spent last year in India.
The grass's healthy green color is fading
because of the draught.
However,
if pronunciation becomes awkward because of the added -'s, you can use just
the apostrophe. Either use is acceptable.
Example:
Moses' experiences are recounted in the Old
Testament.
The Beatles' last live performance occurred
on the roof of this building.
If the
noun is plural and ends in -s, add only an
apostrophe.
Example:
The cats’ food dishes are missing.
The books’ covers are missing.
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