Read the examples and choose the correct options
Possessive case
To talk about possession, we use the following:
's — after a singular noun: Bob's sister, my mother's car;
's or ' — after a singular noun ending in -s: Boris's/Boris' dog, the princess's/princess' father;
' — after a regular plural noun (ending in -s): the students' books, my friends' names;
's — after an irregular plural noun: the children's pens, the men's guitars;
of (not 's) — for things and places: the capital of Russia, the windows of the house.
In a "noun + noun" phrase we use 's only after the last noun:
This is Joanna and Peter's house. This is their house.
Alex is Tom, Anna and Mary's father. Alex is their father.
- My grandparents' names are John and Mary.
- John and Mary's children are Jane and Peter.
- His wife's name is Rose.
- Their children's names are Tim and Kate.
- My father's name is Tom and my brother's name is Ron.
The possessive case is used to say
- whose object it is
- what it is
- who it is
With singular nouns (e.g. wife, father, brother) we
- add '
- add 's
- add s'
With plural nouns (e.g. grandparents) we
- add '
- add 's
- add s'
With irregular forms of nouns (e.g. children) we
- add '
- add 's
- add s'
Which is correct?
- Tom and Jane's daughter
- Tom's and Jane's daughter
- Tom's and Jane daughter