The Possessive Case

The possessive case is also called the genitive case. The possessive case denotes the relation of property or possession. In English, possession is shown by the use of the possessive case of a noun or pronoun or by the use of a prepositional phase beginning with of.

For example

The fact that David owns a harp is shown by
David's harp
or
the harp of David.

The possessive singular of nouns is regularly formed by adding an apostrophe (') and the letter s to the nominative.

For example

man's fate
David’s songs

When the plural noun ends in s, the apostrophe (') only is added.

For example

boys’ bicycles
ladies' careers

Both an apostrophe (') and an s are added when the plural ends in any other letter than s.

>For example

men's jobs
women's professions
children’s schools

Note

The apostrophe (') in the plural is a modern invention used to denote the possessive case. In Lord Grey's letter to the Prince of Wales, written in the latter part of the twelfth or the first of the thirteenth century, are these expressions:

· Our liege Lordes pryve seal

· The Kynges commaundement

· The Erles ground

Notice that none of these possessive nouns, Lordes, Kynges, and Erels use the apostrophe as they would in modern English. In modern English they would be written Lord's, King's, and Earl's.

When the singular ends in a, or in a letter or combination of letters having the sound of s, and the addition of a syllable would be harsh, the poets and some prose writers add the apostrophe (') only.

For example

Peleus' son
goodness' sake
conscience' sake
Moses' seat
Cockatrice’ den

Note

Some difference of opinion prevails among writers regarding the form of the possessive in some cases where the singular ends in s. Some writers add only the apostrophe, but others use the apostrophe and an additional s. Thus, we have:

· Adams’ Express or Adams’s Express

· Otis’ letters, or Otis’s letters

Authority favors the additional s especially if a syllable can reasonably be added in pronouncing the word, such as:

· Barnes's ideas

When the singular and plural of a noun are alike, the apostrophe precedes the s in the singular, and follows it in the plural.

For example

Singular deer's and plural deers'
Singular sheep's and plural sheeps'

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