How to Show Possession with 's (Pre-A1 English Grammar) — Pre-A1 English grammar lesson by Langcom

How to Show Possession with ‘s (Pre-A1 English Grammar)

Raúl Maguiña

Fundador da Langcom | Examinador dos exames de Cambridge e SIELE

julho 14, 2026

PRE-A1✏️ Grammar⏱️ 4 min read
To show who owns something or who someone is related to, we use ‘s in English. This little mark, called an apostrophe, plus the letter ‘s’ (‘s), helps us connect an owner to what they own. For example, if Kit has a friend, we say Kit’s friend. If a dog has a toy, we say the dog’s toy. We add ‘s to the end of a singular noun (a word for one person, animal, or thing). This grammar point is very common and important for basic communication. It makes your sentences shorter and more natural. You will use ‘s often when talking about people, animals, and their belongings. It’s a simple way to express ownership or relationships clearly.

What is ‘s for?

O ‘s form in English helps us show two main things:

  • Possession: Who owns something. For example, This is Kit’s book. (The book belongs to Kit.)
  • Relationships: Who is connected to whom. For example, Fiz is Kit’s friend. (Fiz is a friend of Kit.)

It tells us that one noun (the owner) is connected to another noun (the thing owned or the person related).

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How do we use ‘s?

Using ‘s is very simple for singular nouns (one person, one animal, one thing).

  • You take the singular noun (like Kit ou dog).
  • You add ‘s to the end of that noun.
  • Then you add the noun for the thing that is owned or related.

The pattern is: Owner (singular noun) + ‘s + Thing owned/Person related.

Can we use ‘s with names?

Yes, we use ‘s very often with people’s names.

  • It shows something belongs to that person.
  • It also shows a relationship with that person.

For example, if a toy belongs to Bandit, we say Bandit’s toy.

What about things that are not people?

We also use ‘s with animals.

  • For example, the dog’s bed.
  • Or the cat’s food.

Sometimes, we use ‘s with objects, but this is less common for Pre-A1 learners. For now, focus on people and animals.

Examples of Possessive 's
Owner (Singular Noun) Possessive Form What they own/are related to
Kit Kit’s friend
Bandit Bandit’s toy
Mum Mum’s car
dog dog’s tail
teacher teacher’s desk

Examples

  • This is Kit’s mum.
  • Fiz is Kit’s new friend.
  • The zapper isn’t Bandit’s toy.
  • This is the dog’s ball.
  • That is my sister’s bike.
  • Where is the cat’s bowl?

Practice

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Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Spanish speakers sometimes use a structure like “the friend of Kit” (el amigo de Kit).

  • In English, for people and animals, it is much more natural and common to use ‘s.
  • Incorrect: Fiz is the friend of Kit.
  • Correct: Fiz is Kit’s friend.

Always try to use ‘s when talking about possession or relationships with singular people or animals.

Perguntas frequentes

What does ‘s mean?

O ‘s means that something belongs to someone or something, or that there is a relationship between two things. For example, Kit’s friend means the friend belongs to Kit or is related to Kit.

Is ‘s only for people?

No, ‘s is mostly for people and animals. For example, the boy’s name ou the bird’s nest.

Is ‘s the same as ‘is’?

No, they are different! ‘s can be a contraction for is (e.g., She’s happy means She is happy). But when it shows possession, it is not is. For example, Kit’s friend means the friend belongs to Kit, not “Kit is friend.”

How is ‘s different from ‘of the’?

For people and animals, ‘s is the most common and natural way to show possession or relationship. For example, we say the girl’s book, not the book of the girl. The “of the” structure is used more for inanimate objects or more complex phrases.

Related lessons

Sobre o autor: Raúl Maguiña

Raúl Maguiña é diretor da Asociación Educativa Langcom, um centro autorizado de preparação para o Cambridge English em EUA. Com mais de uma década de experiência no ensino de idiomas e em certificações internacionais, ele já ajudou milhares de alunos, professores e instituições de ensino em 25 países a obter as certificações de inglês da Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL e Michigan.

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