possessive ‘s - use

We use a person + 's to talk about

relationships and possessions.

my father’s car, the dog’s toys,

Mary’s computer
(not the computer of Mary)

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 form + 's

● singular nouns
my father’s car, the cat’s collar,
the teacher’s notebook, etc.
● irregular plural nouns not ending in s
a children’s story, the men’s restroom,
people’s problems, etc.

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 form + 's
● singular nouns ending in s (two options possible)
Chris’s (or Chris’) computer,
Thomas’s (or Thomas’) computer

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 form + '
● plural nouns
the boys’ restroom, the teachers’ lounge,
tourists’ passports, etc.

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 form + '
● plural nouns
the boys’ restroom, the teachers’ lounge,
tourists’ passports, etc.

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 possessive ‘s - use
We also use a person + 's, to talk about
shops and houses.

I’m at John’s (= John’s house)

Sue’s gone to the baker’s (= the baker’s shop)

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 whose…?
We use 'Whose…?, to ask about possessions:

Whose is this bag? / Whose bag is this?

We can answer:

It’s Maria’s. / It’s Maria’s bag.

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 things
We don’t usually use 's, to talk about things.
We normally use of with things.

the end of the street

a picture of the sea
the secret of life

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 NOUN + NOUN
They are nouns that are often used together (they
are called compound nouns).
The first noun describes the second one.

the city centre (the centre of the city)

the car keys (the keys of the car)

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 be careful
's can be two things:

Maria’s bag (’s is possessive)

Maria’s Spanish (’s = is)

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 be careful
Don’t confuseWhose…? andWho's…?

Whose is this bag? (Whose = of who)

Who’s that girl? (Who’s = Who is)

But Whose andWho's are both pronounced /huːz/

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