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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #127349: Back to the possessive case
    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Genitive [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Genitive case - Possessive case - Possessive or genitive Case - Possessive adjectives and pronouns. - Personal pronouns, possessives - Possessive case - Whose and use - Possessive idioms
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Back to the possessive case


    This lesson is meant to review the different usages of the possessive case, because it seems that some hesitations are persisting... 

     

                                     

    GENERAL RULES... and the DIFFICULTIES you might encounter: 


    1) 
    In general, you form a possessive singular noun (both proper and common) by adding an apostrophe and the letter S to the end of the word.

    - The boy's toy/ the dog's leash/ Kyle's car.

     

     

    2) if the owner is a noun in the plural : add an apostrophe (- but no -S).
    -  The students' time-tables/ the Allens' car.

     

     

     

    3) To form possessive nouns -both singular and plural-  ending with -S, grammarians have diverging opinions.

    Yet, most of them have agreed that a noun ending with -s won't take the -S after the apostrophe.
    - Mr Stevens' car/ The Beatles' albums.

     

     

     

    4) In cases of joint ownership: only the second (or last) noun or pronoun has to be possessive.

    - Mario and Gabriella's son: (they had the boy together)

     

     If the owner is an irregular noun in the plural: add an apostrophe + S.

    - He's in the children's room. 

     


    In cases of separate ownership: both (or all) nouns or pronouns are in the possessive case.

    Put an apostrophe + S [« ‘s»] after each owner. The possession is in the plural.
    - Jordan's and Sandy's bicycles are in the garage.

     

    5) If the possessor is a building, an object, or a piece of furniture: you don't need to add an apostrophe to show possession.

    - A hotel room/ the car door

     

     

    6) Reminder!  a special case : 

    * The possessive case may express a duration, a distance.

    - I take a thirty minutes' walk every day!

     

    That's it! Not difficult, is it? You simply have to be precise...

    Don't be frightened of the test, it's quite easy! Go for it! 

     



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    English exercise "Back to the possessive case" created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
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