English as an Additional Language/Possessives
We use possessives when we talk about things which are owned by somebody or a direct relation to someone or something. In many languages it is common to talk about possession using a structure like 'object of subject' where the object is owned or possessed by the subject. This is possible in English but it generally sounds unnatural - This is the garden of my mum.
Usually in English we use possessives - This is my mum's garden
Singular Possessives
[edit | edit source]This is simple. Simply add 's to the end of the noun if the owner or possessor is singular (I only have one mother).
- Tom's pen
- Ross's new house
- Sarah's DVD player
- The dog's dinner (dinner of one dog)
Plural Possessives
[edit | edit source]If the owner or possessor is plural - i.e. many people own it - then we add the ' after the 's' of the plural noun.
- The dogs' dinner (dinner of many dogs)