What Is the Possessive Case?
The possessive case of nouns shows ownership or a relationship between two things. In English, we usually form it by adding an apostrophe + s ('s) or just an apostrophe (') to a noun.
Basic Rules
- Singular nouns: Add
's
the dog's tail, Maria's book - Plural nouns ending in s: Add only an apostrophe
the students' classroom, cats' toys - Plural nouns NOT ending in s: Add
's
the children's playground, women's rights - Joint vs. individual possession:
Joint: Tom and Jerry's apartment (they share one)
Individual: Tom's and Jerry's cars (each has their own)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t confuse its (possessive) with it’s (= “it is” or “it has”).
✅ The cat licked its paw.
❌ The cat licked it’s paw. - Never use an apostrophe to make a word plural (this is called a “greengrocer’s apostrophe”).
✅ I bought three bananas.
❌ I bought three banana's.
Quick Practice Quiz
Choose the correct possessive form:
The ___ house is blue.