Possessive ’s: Anna’s Bag and My Parents’ Car
By the end: I can say who owns something using names and nouns.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Start here
Look at a bag or a book. Say whose it is.
Read each explanation, say your answer aloud, then open the model and try again. You may write your answer if you prefer. Use invented personal details whenever you like.
Useful preparation: Singular/plural nouns; my/your; simple statements with be.
Allow a first attempt before opening the model. Start: 3 minutes. Learn and You say: 18. Practice: 8. Listening: 9. Quiz and correction: 8. Speaking: 11. Recap: 3.
Choose a play button when you are ready.
One person: name + ’s
Add ’s to a name to show possession: Anna’s bag. The owner comes first, then the thing. Anna’s bag means the bag belongs to Anna. Here, ’s does not mean is.
This is Anna’s bag.
That is Ben’s phone.
The two endings do different jobs
Students’ identifies plural owners. Its apostrophe comes after the plural s. Books names more than one thing and needs no apostrophe just to make it plural.
A noun can name the owner
Use ’s after a singular owner noun too: my sister’s bike; the teacher’s desk. Keep my or the before the owner when needed. The ’s belongs to the owner, not to the object.
It’s my brother’s bike.
This is the teacher’s desk.
Keep each book with its named owner
The first book belongs to Mia.
The other book belongs to Ben.
More than one owner ending in s
When the plural owner already ends in s, add only an apostrophe: my parents’ car; the teachers’ room. Compare one sister’s bag and two sisters’ bags. The apostrophe shows ownership; it does not make a word plural.
This is my parents’ car.
These are the students’ books.
Count the owners separately from the thing
Mum and dad are two parents.
They have one car. Put the apostrophe after the plural s in parents.
Guided practice
Try each answer first. Check it, or open a model and its explanation.
Try the form
Compare an answer and explanation
Anna’s bag
Put Anna first and add ‘s.
Compare an answer and explanation
Ben’s phone
Put Ben first and add ‘s.
Compare an answer and explanation
my brother’s bike
One brother takes ‘s.
Compare an answer and explanation
the teacher’s desk
One teacher takes ‘s.
Build or change a sentence
Compare an answer and explanation
my parents’ car
Parents already ends in plural s.
Compare an answer and explanation
the students’ books
Add an apostrophe after plural students.
Compare an answer and explanation
Anna’s bag
Add the missing apostrophe before s.
Compare an answer and explanation
teachers’
Two teachers: put the apostrophe after s.
Listen to a short conversation
Listen. Then open the words and read aloud. Try one part with a partner, or say both parts on your own.
Open the conversation transcript
A: Is this Anna’s bag?
B: No. It’s my sister’s bag.
A: And is that your parents’ car?
B: Yes, it is.
Listening checks
Read the question, play its recording, then choose an answer. You can open the transcript whenever you need it.
Listening 1
Read the transcript
This is Mia’s book. That is Ben’s book.
Listening 2
Read the transcript
This bike belongs to my sister. It’s my sister’s bike.
Listening 3
Read the transcript
My mum and dad have one car. It’s my parents’ car.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. Aim for 7 out of 8, then correct anything you missed.
Answer key with explanations
Anna’s bag Add ‘s to the owner’s name.
my brother’s bike A single brother takes ‘s.
my parents’ car Plural parents ends in s; add an apostrophe.
the teacher’s book One teacher takes ‘s.
the students’ bags Add an apostrophe after plural students.
belonging to Ben Here ‘s shows possession.
two books A plural noun usually adds s without an apostrophe.
my mother’s desk Put the owner before the object.
This quiz checks this lesson, not your overall English level.
Make it yours
Speak first, compare a model, then say a new version. These tasks are ungraded.
Speaking task 1
Choose three objects and invent owners. Use names.
Compare a possible response
This is Eva’s book. That is Leo’s bag. This is Mia’s phone.
Success check: Put each owner’s name first.
This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.
Tutor follow-up: What one detail can you change?
Speaking task 2
Describe three things belonging to people in an invented family.
Compare a possible response
This is my sister’s bike. That is my brother’s bag. This is my parents’ car.
Success check: Use one-owner and plural-owner forms.
This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.
Tutor follow-up: What one detail can you change?
Speaking task 3
With a partner, ask whose objects they are. On your own, say the questions and answers. Then write two ownership phrases.
Compare a possible response
Whose bag is this? It’s Anna’s bag. Whose car is that? It’s my parents’ car.
Success check: In writing, check the apostrophe’s position.
This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.
Tutor follow-up: What one detail can you change?
Recap
Listen and repeat. This is Anna’s bag. It’s my brother’s bike. This is my parents’ car.
I can say who owns something using names and nouns.
- I can use the main pattern.
- I can make one sentence of my own.
- I know one thing to practise again.