Using the Apostrophe 'S

Use the apostrophe 's when expressing ownership or if there is a relationship between two things.

Examples:

• The dog's bone is dirty.
• The tree's branches are falling.

* The dog owns the bone.

* The tree owns the branches.

Singular Noun

Add 's to singular nouns.

Examples:

• My brother's shirt is clean.
• Martha's cat is hungry.

Plural nouns ending in s

Only add the apostrophe -'

Examples:

• We went to my friends' party last night.
• I was at my cousins' house yesterday.

Plural nouns not ending in s

Only add the apostrophe -'s

Examples:

• The men's restroom was very clean.
• The children's toys were all over the place.

Singular nouns ending in -s

Only add the apostrophe -'s

Examples:

• The actress's role was very difficult.
• The Davis's car was not working toy.