possessive

Everyday

1. Possessive means wanting to keep something or someone all to yourself and not wanting to share. tree →
2. (grammar) Possessive words show that something belongs to someone, such as «my», «your», «his», «hers», «its», «our», «their», or a noun with an apostrophe and s, like «Sam's». tree →
3. (noun, grammar) The possessive is the form of a word that shows owning. tree →

In the lessons

In grammar lessons, pupils learn the possessive apostrophe: the dog's bone (one dog), the dogs' bones (many dogs), and possessive pronouns and determiners. In everyday life and stories, a possessive friend gets jealous if you play with others, and a possessive dog guards its toy. Common phrases: «possessive apostrophe», «possessive pronoun», «possessive determiner», «possessive of», «get possessive».

Examples

• The possessive apostrophe in «Mia's coat» shows the coat belongs to Mia. tree →
• «Mine», «yours» and «theirs» are possessive pronouns. tree →
• My dog gets very possessive about his ball. tree →
• She was possessive of her new felt-tip pens. tree →
• Add an apostrophe to make the possessive: the children's toys. tree →
• A possessive friend may not like you having other friends. tree →
• «Its» is possessive, but «it's» means «it is». tree →

Note

Grammar trap: «its» (possessive, no apostrophe) vs «it's» (it is). Possessive pronouns like «hers», «ours», «yours» never take an apostrophe. Plural nouns ending in s take the apostrophe after the s: the girls' changing room.