What is an example of a sentence with a possessive?

Answer 1

A possessive noun is formed by adding ('s) or there are possessive pronouns (mine, yours, etc.). These are both used to show an ownership over something or someone.

An example using a possessive would be:

• The dog's ball. - the dog is displaying ownership of the ball.

Be careful when using plural nouns, or nouns/proper nouns that end in "s" because you do not always add an ('s).

For example:

• The girl's tennis team - this implies that there is onegirl on the tennis team (which wouldn't make much of a team, would it?)

Instead it should be:

• The girls' tennis team - implying there is a group of girls on the team.

When a name ends in "s" you simply add an apostrophe if it is awkward to say with an "s" sound. You leave the ('s) if it is not awkward to say.

For example:

Ulysses' voyage. (it would be awkward to add the extra "s" sound here, so leave it out)

Jones's cottage. (it's not awkward to add the extra "s" sound here, so tack it on).