Possessive DeterminersSet 19
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules for using apostrophes with possessive determiners?
Apostrophes are used with possessive determiners to indicate possession. For singular nouns, add an apostrophe followed by an "s" (e.g., "John's book"). For plural nouns ending in "s," add only an apostrophe (e.g., "the dogs' toys").
How do possessive determiners function in complex sentences?
Possessive determiners in complex sentences indicate ownership and must agree with the subject. For example, in "The teacher's book and the students' notes were on the desk," "teacher's" and "students'" show possession by the teacher and students, respectively.
What is the correct usage of possessive determiners with compound subjects?
When using possessive determiners with compound subjects, the apostrophe and "s" are placed after the last noun in the compound subject. For example, "John and Mary's house" indicates the house belongs to both John and Mary.
How do possessive determiners work with plural nouns?
With plural nouns, the possessive form typically involves adding an apostrophe after the "s" that already indicates plurality. For example, "the girls' toys" shows that the toys belong to multiple girls.
What are the rules for using possessive determiners in relative clauses?
In relative clauses, possessive determiners show ownership and must agree with the antecedent. For example, "The student whose book was lost" uses "whose" to indicate possession by the student.