When it comes to showing possession in the English language, two commonly used forms are the apostrophe with an s (‘s) and the apostrophe without an additional s (s’). These two forms can often confuse writers, but understanding their usage can help clarify the meaning of a sentence.
Both forms are used to indicate ownership or possession of something. The apostrophe with an additional s (‘s) is typically used to show possession for singular nouns, while the apostrophe without an additional s (s’) is used for plural nouns that already end in s. For example, “The dog’s tail wagged happily” uses ‘s to show that the tail belongs to the singular dog.
When it comes to plural nouns that do not end in s, the rule is the same as for singular nouns. For example, “The children’s toys were scattered across the room” uses ‘s to show that the toys belong to the plural children. However, when the plural noun already ends in s, such as with “The students’ desks were organized neatly,” the apostrophe is placed after the s.
It is important to note that the use of possessive ‘s and s’ can also change depending on the context of the sentence. For example, when showing joint possession, both parties should have the possessive form. In the sentence “Mary and John’s wedding was beautiful,” both Mary and John are sharing possession of the wedding, so the ‘s is placed after both names.
Additionally, when showing separate possession, each party should have its own possessive form. In the sentence “Mary’s and John’s cars were parked in the driveway,” Mary and John each have their own cars, so the possessive ‘s is used separately for each name.
In conclusion, understanding the proper usage of possessive ‘s and s’ can help clarify the meaning of a sentence and prevent confusion for readers. By following the rules outlined above, writers can effectively show ownership or possession in their writing without any ambiguity.