Berlitz Hints - Possessive

The possessive form is used with nouns referring to people, groups of people, countries, and animals.

Belonging to or ownership is one of the relationships it expresses:

• John owns a car. (John is the possessor or owner) - It is John's car.

It can also express other relationships or where someone works, studies or spends time:

• John goes to this school. This is John's school.
• John sleeps in this room. This is John's room.
  

A family relationship:

• John's mother.
• The King's son.
  

Qualities:

• John's patience.
• The politician's humor.
  

Form:

To form the possessive, add 's (apostrophe "s") to the noun. If the noun is plural, or already ends in "s", just add an apostrophe.

For names ending in "s":

In speaking we add the sound /ª z/ to the name, but in writing it is possible to use either 's or just an apostrophe.

• Thomas's car.
• James' store.
  

More examples:

• The car of John = John's car.
• The room of the girls = The girls' room.
• Clothes for men = Men's clothes.

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Your Berlitz Team