Possessives

Add an apostrophe to express possession. This shows the relationship between the first and second noun is one of belonging or ownership.

Singular Noun (‘s)

• Jacob‘s ladder
• Thomas‘s doubt (Thomas‘ is also technically correct, but MLA/APA prefers ‘s.)

Plural Noun (‘s)

• The men’s dinner
• Girls’ lunch

Joint

• Sam and Sally’s children (They have the same children.)
• Sam’s children and Beth’s children (They have different children.)

These do NOT use apostrophes.

• Yours, His, Hers, Theirs
  • Examples: His friends said the money was theirs. Are the shoes yours?

Tip: Be sure to understand the difference between “It is” as a contraction and “its” the possessive pronoun for “it.”

• Its engine is overheated. (Possessive)
• It’s a great day for a drive. (Contraction)