Possessive Forms of Nouns
Jane's apartment, the children's dinner, a map of the city. Learn the rules, then practise.
Show rules
The possessive 's
| Noun type | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| singular noun | 's | the dog → the dog's tail |
| singular ending in -s | 's | the boss → the boss's office |
| plural ending in -s | ' only | the students → the students' books |
| irregular plural | 's | the children → the children's toys |
Watch out: the apostrophe goes before the -s for one owner and after it for several — the girl's room (one) vs the girls' room (several).
's or "of"?
- people, animals, organizations → usually 's: Anna's car, the company's decision
- things, places, abstract ideas → usually of: the roof of the house, the end of the street
Joint vs separate possession
- shared: Tom and Anna's house — one house (only the last name takes 's)
- separate: Tom's and Anna's cars — each person has their own
Time, distance and value
The possessive 's is also used with time, distance, and amounts:
a day's work, two weeks' holiday, ten minutes' walk, today's news, five pounds' worth
The double genitive
Use of + a possessive form to mean "one of several": a friend of mine, a colleague of my brother's.
Common mistakes
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| the childrens' room | the children's room |
| the students's books | the students' books |
| a two weeks holiday | a two weeks' holiday |
| the friend of me | a friend of mine |
| a bus's station | a bus station |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the apostrophe go in possessive nouns?
For a singular noun, add 's: the dog's tail, Anna's car. For a plural noun ending in -s, add only an apostrophe: the students' books, my parents' house. For an irregular plural, add 's: the children's toys, the men's room. The position shows the number: 'the girl's room' (one girl) vs 'the girls' room' (several girls).
When do you use 's and when 'of'?
Use 's mainly with people, animals, and organizations: Anna's car, the dog's tail, the company's decision. Use 'of' mainly with things, places, and abstract ideas: the roof of the house, the end of the street, the name of the book.
What is the difference between joint and separate possession?
For shared possession, only the last name takes 's: 'Tom and Anna's house' means one house they share. For separate possession, each name takes 's: 'Tom's and Anna's cars' means Tom has his own car and Anna has hers.
Do time expressions use the possessive 's?
Yes. Periods of time, distances, and amounts of money take the possessive form: a day's work, two weeks' holiday, ten minutes' walk, today's news, five pounds' worth. A plural time word follows the plural rule — two weeks' takes only an apostrophe.