masterMind Level 1

Unit 7 Grammar 1

POSSESSIVE
APOSTROPHE
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

A: What did you

think about
Erica’s latest
presentation?

B: She’s doing a
great job of
designing womens’
women’s
C: I didn’t realize that Erica’s
clothes. It’s a great
friend’s designs were part of
project.
Hewitt and Morton’s show.
1. How many possessive apostrophes are there? five
2. Which apostrophe refers to joint ownership?
3. Can you notice an error?
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

Look at the conversation.

What different forms for possessive apostrophes
are used in the two sentences?

Definitely. Her designs for

Do you agree
men’s clothing were
it’s Jane’s best
very impressive.
show?

To show something has joint ownership, we

second noun
put the apostrophe after the _______
(e.g. Abby and Dave’s party).
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

Other examples of possessive apostrophes:

Have you heard about

Jacob’s new designs? No, I thought the fashion
event would only display
Bella and Ben’s designs.

Jacob’s designs won’t be on the catwalk, but

they will be for sale at the show’s opening.
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

Look at the examples. What information do the

possessive apostrophes give us?
separate
_________
Those are Anna’s and Jen’s books. ownership

It’s Carl and Helena’s joint ownership

______
dream come true.

plural
_______
It’s the neighbors’ party tonight.

TIP: Use ’s with some plural nouns

(e.g., the children’s games).
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

Form Possessive ’s Possessive ’

singular nouns Angus__

’s pen ’ pen
Angus__

plural nouns ’s room

children__ actors_
’ studio

compound nouns Tim’s and Ed’s cars

(separate ownership)
(joint ownership) Tim Ed’s business
____ and ____
double
(two consecutive ’s boss__
His dad__ ’s computer.
nouns)
with gerund ’s opening the dogs_
the school__ ’ barking
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

It’s her father’s Possessive apostrophes help us to

design. distinguish which things are owned
and who the possessor is.

It’s my friend’s Where we place the

daughters’ fashion apostrophe can tell us if
line. something has more than
one possessor.
The show is Adam
and Chris’s first
one.
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

Add ’ or ’s in the correct places in the sentences.

1. It was Jen
Jen’s mother’s invitation.

2. The childrens
children’s party starts at five.

3. Do you know if Jack

Jack and Adam dad can fix
and Adam’s
my car?

4. Let me know if you can’t find Sue

Sue’sand Kate
and Kate’s
bags.
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

Prepare a role-play using possessive adjectives.

Example questions:
Would you like to go to
John’s brother’s exhibition?

Yes, the gallery’s

opening is
tomorrow, right? I think so. Should I
take Nina’s and Max’s
numbers? I can tell
them about it, too.
 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

Grammar wrap-up
Complete the sentences.

1. You can use the possessive apostrophe with

a. singular nouns, plural nouns and compound
nouns.
b. adjectives and verbs.

2. Jane’s and Ed’s notebooks contains a compound noun

that refers to
a. joint ownership.
b. separate ownership.