Whose and Possessive 's: Whose is this?
We use whose to ask about ownership. To show possession, we often use 's or an apostrophe. Let's learn how to use them.
Structure
- Whose: Whose + noun + is this? Example: Whose book is this?
- Singular noun + 's: Add 's to a singular noun. Example: Mike's car
- Plural noun ending in -s + ': Add an apostrophe after the s. Example: the teachers' room
- Irregular plural noun + 's: Add 's to irregular plurals. Example: the children's toys
- One thing belongs to two or more people: Add 's after the last noun. Example: John and Mary's house
- Each person has one thing: Add 's after each name. Example: John's and Mary's cars
- Possessive of: Use 'of' to show possession. Example: the color of the car
- Compound nouns: Use 'of' for compound nouns. Example: the city centre
How the Grammar Works
- Use whose to ask about ownership. Example: Whose pen is this?
- For singular nouns, add 's. Example: Anna's book
- For plural nouns ending in -s, add an apostrophe. Example: the dogs' owner
- For irregular plural nouns, add 's. Example: the men's room
- When one thing belongs to two or more people, add 's after the last noun. Example: Tom and Jerry's show
- When each person has one thing, add 's after each name. Example: Tom's and Jerry's hats
- Use 'of' for compound nouns or when it's clearer. Example: the roof of the house
Common Use Cases
- Asking about ownership: Whose bag is this?
- Showing possession for singular nouns: Lisa's phone
- Showing possession for plural nouns: the cats' toys
- Showing possession for irregular plurals: the women's meeting
- Showing shared ownership: Jack and Jill's bucket
- Showing individual ownership: Jack's and Jill's shoes
- Using 'of' for clarity: the top of the mountain
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Using 'whose' instead of 'who's': Incorrect: "Who's book is this?" Correct: "Whose book is this?"
- Forgetting the apostrophe for plural nouns: Incorrect: "the dogs toys". Correct: "the dogs' toys"
- Using 's for regular plurals: Incorrect: "the cats's food". Correct: "the cats' food"
- Not using 's for irregular plurals: Incorrect: "the children toys". Correct: "the children's toys"
Comparison with Related Grammar
Possessive adjectives (my, your, his) and possessive pronouns (mine, yours, hers) also show ownership. Use possessive adjectives before a noun: my book. Use possessive pronouns alone: This is mine.
Example Sentences
- Whose jacket is this?
- This is Sarah's bike.
- The students' books are on the table.
- The children's playground is new.
- That is Tom and Jerry's car.
- Anna's and Mike's rooms are clean.
When to Use This Rule
Use whose to ask about ownership. Use 's or an apostrophe to show possession. Remember: singular nouns take 's, plural nouns ending in -s take an apostrophe, and irregular plurals take 's.