Possessive nouns show ownership or a relationship of belonging between one thing and another. Learning how to form them correctly is essential for clear and accurate writing.
Basic Rules
- Singular nouns: Add
's (e.g., the cat’s tail).
- Plural nouns ending in "s": Add only an apostrophe (e.g., the students’ books).
- Plural nouns not ending in "s": Add
's (e.g., the children’s toys).
- Joint possession: Only the last noun takes the possessive form (e.g., Tom and Jerry’s apartment).
- Individual possession: Make all nouns possessive (e.g., Tom’s and Jerry’s cars).
Examples
- The dog’s leash is red.
- My parents’ house is in Boston.
- The women’s team won the championship.
- James’s laptop is broken. (Some style guides allow James’ as well.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Its’ is never correct — “its” (no apostrophe) is possessive; “it’s” = “it is.”
❌ Don’t confuse pluralization with possession (e.g., apple’s vs. apples).
Practice Tip
Try rewriting these sentences using possessive nouns:
- The car that belongs to Sarah → Sarah’s car
- The project of the two engineers → the engineers’ project