Possession: Punctuation

In English, punctuation marks play a crucial role in indicating possession, which signifies ownership or belonging. Let’s delve into the basics of possession and how punctuation helps us convey this concept effectively.

1. Apostrophe (‘s): The apostrophe followed by an ‘s’ (‘s) is commonly used to indicate possession for singular nouns.
   • Example: The dog’s bone (the bone belongs to the dog).
2.  Plural Nouns Ending in ‘s’: For plural nouns ending in ‘s’, we use only an apostrophe (‘) after the ‘s’ to denote possession.
   • Example: The students’ books (the books belong to the students).
3.  Plural Nouns Not Ending in ‘s’: For plural nouns that do not end in ‘s’, we use apostrophe (‘s) to indicate possession.
   • Example: The children’s toys (the toys belong to the children).
4. Joint Possession: When two or more people share ownership, the apostrophe (‘s) is added to the last name only.
   • Example: John and Sarah’s car (the car belongs to both John and Sarah).
5. Possessive Pronouns: Some pronouns already indicate possession and do not require apostrophes. These include “its,” “his,” “hers,” “theirs,” “ours,” and “yours.”
6.  Avoiding Apostrophe Abuse: It’s essential to use apostrophes correctly to avoid confusion and maintain clarity in your writing. Remember, apostrophes are not used to indicate plurals or to form possessive pronouns.

Exercises : 

• Exercises 1: Possession | Practice Test Online
• Exercises 2: Possession | Practice Test Online
• Exercises 3: Possession | Practice Test Online

Understanding possession and its punctuation rules is fundamental for effective communication in English. Practice using apostrophes appropriately to convey ownership accurately in your writing.