Those Pesky Possessives If it’s a singular noun, ALWAYS add ’s. So how do we indicate the rim of the glass? The ____ rim. The glass’s rim -- because it is one glass. (I know it looks odd.)

Pesky Possessives (cont.) When do you use that s’ construction? When you want to indicate that a plural noun that already ends in s owns something. Example: The organization owns 27 retirement communities. The communities’ directors all write wonderfully.

More Examples Watch out: The plural sometimes does not end in s. (Ain’t English grand.) Example: The childrens’ OR children’s toys. Children’s -- because children means a bunch of kids.

It Gets Worse What if two things own something? Example: Unit A and Unit B’s bathroom must be remodeled. OR Unit A’s and Unit B’s bathrooms must be remodeled. Answer: This place isn’t a B&B; everyone gets a bathroom. Unit A’s and Unit B’s bathrooms must be remodeled.

The Famous Its vs. It’s Debate The geeky way to say it is: “Don’t use an apostrophe to form the possessive of a personal pronoun.” Translation:It’s fat = It is fat. Its fat = the fat that belongs to it

So... The man whose OR who’s house adjoins the property. Whose -- because who’s means “who is.”