7. possessive nouns and pronouns Key Concepts 7a. Nouns… An apostrophe is used to show possession or ownership. The location of the apostrophe depends upon the characteristics of the noun. 1. Add an apostrophe and –s to show the possessive case of most singular nouns. the book of the girl = the girl’s book the leaf of the shrub = the shrub’s leaf the crib of the baby = the baby’s crib the check of the waitress = the waitress’s check 2. Add an apostrophe to show the possessive case of plural nouns ending in –s or –es. the shirts of the boys = the boys’ shirts the figures in the charts = the charts’ figures the groups in the classes = the classes’ groups 3. Add an apostrophe and an –s to show the possessive case of plural nouns that do not end in –s or –es. the suits of the men = the men’s suits the toys of the children = the children’s toys 4. Add an apostrophe and an –s (or just an apostrophe if the word is a plural ending in –s) to the last word of a compound noun to form the possessive. Names of Businesses and Organizations: the Red Cross’s volunteers Major and Marker’s baby powder Ozu and Sons’ Electronics Titles of Rulers and Leaders: King George III’s army the Chief Justice’s decision Shogun Yoritomo’s decree Hyphenated Compound Nouns: my father-in-law’s ranch the secretary-treasurer’s report 5. To form possessives involving time and amounts, use an apostrophe and –s or just an apostrophe if the possessive is plural. Time: a month’s vacation three months’ work Amount: a dime’s worth three dimes’ worth 6. To show joint ownership, make the final noun possessive. To show individual ownership, make each noun possessive. Joint Ownership: Will and Martin’s dog, a greyhound, has won a number of prizes. Individual Ownership: Susan’s, Marie’s, and Alice’s papers were graded by the teacher. 7. Never use an apostrophe to make a noun plural. 7b. Pronouns… Two additional rules are needed to show possession with indefinite pronouns and personal pronouns. Indefinite pronouns require the use of an apostrophe and an –s to show possession. 1. Use an apostrophe and an –s with indefinite pronouns to show possession. nobody’s turn somebody’s house key one’s homework each other’s handkerchiefs everybody’s friend one another’s bathing caps 2. Do not use an apostrophe with the possessive forms of personal pronouns. his old car that hobby of hers its tail that house of ours that paper of yours that responsibility of theirs All material on this page borrowed for education use only from Writing and Grammar: Communication in Action: Ruby Level. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc, 2001.

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