This document provides guidance on using possessive case in English sentences. It discusses forming possessives with singular and plural nouns, including nouns ending in s, and addresses cases of joint versus individual ownership. Examples are given for different possessive structures like those involving of-phrases or singular nouns ending in s.

1. Group Work
 Get in your groups...
 Write a sentence using proper possessive case
with an ”of” phrase.
 Write a sentence using the singular noun form of
possessive case.
 Write a sentence using a singular or plural noun
ending in S.
 Write a sentence using individual or joint
ownership.

2. Quiz Answers
 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SsmgSS8Q_Iu
Ge6HXO4QDgeiGF1v5N5XhiyRs80MK6wo/vie
wform

3.  Write a sentence using proper possessive case
with an ”of” phrase.

4. Apostrophes
 Apostrophes form the possessive case, indicate omissions in
contractions, and, in some cases, form plurals.
 Remember back to the brief discussion of the possessive case
from a few weeks ago.
 Possessive case indicates ownership.
 In English, there are two ways to do this:
 A phrase with the word ”of” included
 The hands of the clock
 or...
 With an apostrophe
 The clock's hands

5. Possessive Case!
 Singular nouns & certain forms of pronouns
 To form possessive case, add an 's
 ”The Monk's Tale” is one of Chaucer's
Canterbury Tales.
 When we would arrive was anyone's guess.

6. Pause!
 Pause.
 Take a breath.
 Questions?

7.  Write a sentence using the singular noun form of
possessive case.

8. Singular Nouns Ending In -s
 In most cases, to form the possessive case of
singular nouns that end in -s you will add 's
 Reading Henry James's The Ambassadors was not
Maris's idea of fun.
 But...
 Some singular nouns that end in -s sound
awkward when pronouncing the possessive
ending as a separate syllable.

9. Singular Nouns Ending In -s
 When this happens, grammarians have deemed it
acceptable to just add an apostrophe.
 Borges' short stories
 Aristophanes' play
 Generally, use your best judgment and be
consistent.

10. Titles With -'s Already...
 If title already has 's, use a phrase to form
possessive case
 Awkward: A Midsummer Night's Dream's staging
presents a challenge.
 Revised: The staging of A Midsummer Night's
Dream presents a challenge.

11.  Write a sentence using a singular or plural noun
ending in S.

12. Plural Nouns Ending In -s
 Already plural nouns get an ' when already
ending in -s
 The Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature is
available online.
 Compound nouns also get an -s
 He accepted the secretary of state's resignation
under protest.

13. Pause!
 Pause.
 Take a breath.
 Questions?

14.  Write a sentence using individual or joint
ownership.

15. Two or More Items
 This one is tricky!
 To indicate individual ownership of two or more
items, add -'s to each item
 Ernest Hemingway's and Gertrude Stein's writing
styles have some similarities.
 To indicate joint ownership, add -'s only to the
last item.
 Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas include The
Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado.

16. Finally...
 It's is NOT a possesive. You are looking for its.
 Generally, be careful with contractions.

17. Look For Clues...
 Look for other words (Some, etc)

18. Supplemental Links
 Wondering what do to with inanimate objects?
Granmar Girl has your answer.
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/possession-inanimate-