Transcript Forming Possessives

Apostrophes
BHS Ninth Grade
II. ELEMENTARY
RULES OF USAGE
1. Form the possessive singular of nouns with
's.
2. Follow this rule whatever the final consonant.
3. Thus write:
1. Charles's friend
2. Burns's poems
3. the witch's malice
This is the usage of the United States Government Printing
Office and of the Oxford University Press.
Exceptions to the Rule!
• Exceptions are the possessives of ancient
proper names in -es and -is, the possessive
Jesus', and such forms as for conscience'
sake, for righteousness' sake.
• But such forms as Achilles' heel, Moses'
laws, Isis' temple are commonly replaced
by:
– the heel of Achilles
– the laws of Moses
– the temple of Isis
The pronominal possessives hers, its, theirs,
yours, and oneself have no apostrophe.
Rule 1.Use the apostrophe
with contractions. The
apostrophe is always placed
at the spot where the
letter(s) has been removed.
• Examples:
– don't, isn't
– You're right.
• She's a great teacher.
Rule 2.Use the apostrophe to
show possession. Place the
apostrophe before the s to show
singular possession.
• Examples:one boy's hat one woman's hat
one actress's hat one child's hat Ms.
Chang's house
• NOTE: Although names ending in s or an s sound
are not required to have the second s added in
possessive form, it is preferred.
• Mr. Jones's golf clubs
• Texas's weather
• Ms. Straus's daughter
• Jose Sanchez's artwork
• Dr. Hastings's appointment (name is Hastings)
• Mrs. Lees's books (name is Lees)
Plural Possessives
• In the case of plural possessives
• add 's to the plural forms that do not
end in -s:
the children's game
the geese's honking
• add ' to the end of plural nouns that end
in -s:
two cats' toys
three friends' letters
the countries' laws
Finally …
• add 's to the end of compound
words:
• my brother-in-law's money
• add 's to the last noun to show
joint possession of an object:
• Todd and Anne's apartment