Apostrophes for Possesion

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Ten minutes quiet reading

How is it going with your novel?

We will be working on the presentations very soon!

Singular possessive nouns 

need and apostrophe

Before the "s"

The teacher's desk is tidy.

The baby's mother is tired.

That's my friend's house.

regular plural possessive nouns 

need and apostrophe

After the "s"

The dogs' bowl. (There are two dogs)

The teachers' desk. (There are lots of teachers)

irregular plural possessive nouns 

 are an exception

need and apostrophe

Before the "s"

The tTeacher's desk is tidy.

The men's shoes are on the top floor

The children's toys 

Peoples names that end in an S

can have an apostrophe

Before or after the "s"

The tTeacher's desk is tidy.

Jame's shoes 

Thomas's books

Fill in the right possessive form,

1. This is the girls horse
2. This is the girl’s horse.
3. This is the girls' horse
4. This is the girls horse'

Fill in the right possessive form,

1. Mary and Kate's house is big.
2. Mary and Kates house is big.
3. Mary's and Kate's house is big.
4. Mary and kates' house is big.

Fill in the right possessive form,

1. Janes sister is twelve years old.
2. Janes' sister is twelve years old.
3. Jane's sister is twelve years old.
4. Janes sister' is twelve years old.

Fill in the right possessive form, 

1. The mens clothes are on the top floor.
2. The mens' clothes are on the top floor.
3. The men's clothes are on the top floor.
4. The mans clothes are on the top floor.

Fill in the right possessive form,

1. Let's go to the children's school
2. Let's go to the childrens school.
3. Let's go to the childs school
4. Let's go to the childrens' school.

Fill in the right possessive form,

1. My uncle's new bike was very expensive
2. My uncles' new bike was very expensive
3. My uncles new bike was very expensive
4. My uncles new bike' was very expensive

Fill in the right possessive form, using the subject between brackets

Example: This is the_________ . (child, toy) → This is the child’s toy. 

This is _______ . (Sarah, school)

The _______ is upstairs. (children, bedroom) - * they share a room

The _______ is upstairs. (children, bedroom) - * they have a room each

Grammar Note: 

 The dress of my mother, the car of my father, this is a very common direct language transfer mistake made by Dutch people and we would not say this in normal modern English usage of course. 

See following slides for when we can use __"of" ___

 idioms such as: 

They are good friends of mine, 

 A neighbour of ours owns a Porsche.

To show clarity: 

She is the wife of my boss's son. 

The painting of Vermeer

Vermeer's painting.

To note a difference in meaning: