Possessives: 's and my/your
The possessive 's (Anna's car), s' for plurals, and the my/your/his/her row including its vs it's
I can express possession with 's and the my/your row, including the its/it's distinction.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
This is my sister's bike, and that one is our parents'.
This is my sister's bike, and that one is our parents'.
It's raining, and the dog wants its dinner anyway.
It's raining, and the dog wants its dinner anyway.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Two systems share the work:
| System | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 's (people, animals) | noun + 's | Anna's car, the dog's bed |
| s' (plural) | nouns + ' | my parents' house |
| determiners | my, your, his, her, its, our, their | her brother, their flat |
For things, prefer of: the end of the film. Crucial pair: its (possessive) × it's (= it is): The cat licked its paw. It's cold.
- its/it's swapped: The cat licked its paw; It's cold
- his/her by the OWNER's gender: Anna loves her job
- *the car of Anna → Anna's car
Common Error Patterns
its and it's confused
its = possessive, it's = it is
his/her chosen by the possessed noun
English marks the owner: Anna → her
This is my sister's bike, and that one is our parents'.
This is my sister's bike, and that one is our parents'.
Singular 's and plural s' side by side.
It's raining, and the dog wants its dinner anyway.
It's raining, and the dog wants its dinner anyway.
it's (= it is) and its (possessive) in one line.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises