Elementary 📐 Grammar · #235 of 305

Possessives with Names Ending in -s

Add 's or just an apostrophe.

Examples

  • James's book
  • the Jones' house

Key rules

  • For singular nouns add 's, even if the name ends in -s (James's book)
  • Many people also accept just an apostrophe (James' book)
  • Plural nouns ending in -s take only the apostrophe (the Joneses' house)
  • The apostrophe goes after the owner

Common mistakes

  • the Jones house → the Joneses' house
  • Jame's book → James's book
💡 Tip: Choose one style and keep it in the same text.
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Related Elementary topics

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Add -ed to finish actions in the past.

Past Simple: Irregular Verbs

Many common verbs have special past forms.

Past Simple: Negatives and Questions

Use did/didn't + base verb.

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Past forms of be.

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was/were + -ing for actions in progress in the past.

Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Use continuous for background; simple for interrupting events.