Possessive 's helps you communicate about ownership, relationships, time and association. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can show possession and relationships using apostrophes accurately.
- Recognise and build the form: singular noun + 's; regular plural + '; irregular plural + 's.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Possessive 's for ownership, relationships, time and association. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
This is Mia's laptop.
Add apostrophe + s to a singular name.
The teachers' room is upstairs.
For a regular plural ending in '-s', add only an apostrophe.
The children's toys are in the box.
An irregular plural not ending in '-s' takes apostrophe + s.
singular noun + 's; regular plural + '; irregular plural + 'sKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- Add apostrophe + s to a singular name.
- For a regular plural ending in '-s', add only an apostrophe.
- An irregular plural not ending in '-s' takes apostrophe + s.
- Singular names ending in '-s' commonly take apostrophe + s.
- Use possessive '-s' in a time expression meaning a holiday lasting one week.
Common mistakes
Not:This is Mias laptop.
Use:This is Mia's laptop.
Add apostrophe + s to a singular name.
Not:The teacher's room is upstairs.
Use:The teachers' room is upstairs.
For a regular plural ending in '-s', add only an apostrophe.
Not:The childrens' toys are in the box.
Use:The children's toys are in the box.
An irregular plural not ending in '-s' takes apostrophe + s.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
I borrowed ____ bicycle.
James's
Singular names ending in '-s' commonly take apostrophe + s.
We had a ____ holiday.
week's
Use possessive '-s' in a time expression meaning a holiday lasting one week.
Mia and Ben's house means the house belongs to ____.
both of them
A single possessive marker after the second name indicates joint possession.