Use of Apostrophe 'S'

APOSTROPHE 'S'

The boy's books.      --   the books of the boy.

The boys' books.      --   the books of the boys.

The man's work.       --   the work of the man.

The men's work.       --   the work of the men.

The child's toys.       --   the toys of the child

The children's toys.  --   the toys of the children

The horse's tail.        --   the tail of the horse.

Pakistan's army.       --   the army of Pakistan.

Note:

(a)  Don't use apostrophe's' except with a living possessor or a country.

      e.g. the door of the room (Not: the room's door)

 

(b)  It's = it is.  e.g.  It's very hot.

       Its = his. e.g. the dog ate its food.

 

(c)  Ours, yours, theirs and hers do not have an apostrophe .

 

(d)  Only use apostrophe's' when the next word belongs to the word with the apostrophe.

       It is not used in sentences such as:

•        He plays with friends whenever he gets a holiday.
•        The boys put their books in the cupboard.

( e)  Use an apostrophe in cases such as:

• in three days' time
• one day's leave.
• in one hour's time
• three days' leave.