In our lesson, we will talk about the topic of ‘Possessives’ in English grammar.
Possessives in English grammar are like little flags we stick on nouns to say, “This belongs to someone or something!” We often use an apostrophe (‘) and “s” for this. Think of a cat and its toy mouse. We say “the cat’s toy” because the toy belongs to the cat. The apostrophe + “s” after “cat” makes it clear.
Sometimes, we use special words called possessive pronouns instead of apostrophes. These are words like “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their.” So, instead of saying “Sarah’s book,” you could say “her book.”
Example Sentences:
- This is my pen.
- The cat’s toy means the toy belongs to the cat.
Singular Nouns
For most singular nouns (one person, place, or thing), you add an apostrophe followed by the letter “s” to show possession. For example:
- The cat’s toy means the toy belongs to the cat.
- Sarah’s book means the book belongs to Sarah.
Plural Nouns
For plural nouns (more than one), it depends on how the plural is formed:
If the plural noun ends in “s,” you just add an apostrophe after the “s.” For example:
- The dogs’ park means the park belongs to the dogs.
- The teachers’ lounge means the lounge belongs to the teachers.
If the plural noun does not end in “s,” you add an apostrophe and “s.” For example:
- The children’s toys means the toys belong to the children.
- The men’s room means the room belongs to the men.
Possessive Pronouns
There are also possessive pronouns, which are words that show ownership without using an apostrophe. These include:
My, your, his, her, its, our, their
For example:
This is my pen.
That is their house.
| Type | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Singular Noun | The cat’s toy | Add ‘s to show the toy belongs to the cat |
| Plural Noun (ends in “s”) | The dogs’ park | Add ‘ after s to show the park belongs to the dogs |
| Plural Noun (does not end in “s”) | The children’s toys | Add ‘s to show the toys belong to the children |
| Possessive Pronoun | My, your, his, her, its, our, their | Words that show ownership without an apostrophe |
Possessives in English show ownership, like saying something belongs to someone.
Summary
Possessives in English show ownership, like saying something belongs to someone. For most singular nouns, you add an apostrophe and “s” (e.g., “the cat’s toy”). For plural nouns ending in “s,” just add an apostrophe (e.g., “the dogs’ park”). Possessive pronouns like “my,” “your,” and “their” show ownership without using an apostrophe.
Grammar Exercises
Practice online and check your results with answers.