---
title: "Apostrophes for possession"
description: "Use the possessive apostrophe with singular nouns to show ownership (e.g., the girl's book, the dog's bone)"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-for-possession-mt_Z3G_97fnha
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-for-possession-mt_Z3G_97fnha.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

> **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants.
> When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md
> API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md
> Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt
> Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json
> Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`.

# Apostrophes for possession

Use the possessive apostrophe with singular nouns to show ownership (e.g., the girl's book, the dog's bone)

Subject: English · Area: Spelling & Word Study · Ages 6 to 8
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-for-possession-mt_Z3G_97fnha

## Ready when they can

- Write 'the cat's tail' to show the tail belongs to the cat
- Distinguish plural -s ('the cats ran') from possessive 's ('the cat's bed') in writing
- Add a possessive apostrophe to a singular noun in a dictated sentence

## Lesson: Apostrophes for possession

You already know the apostrophe from words like don't. It has another job too: showing that something belongs to someone. Add an apostrophe and an s to show that one person or one thing owns something. The dog's bone means the bone belongs to the dog.

*(drawing: See where the apostrophe goes: right before the s, between the word dog and the s.)*

**Example.** Mia has a book. Since one person, Mia, owns it, we write Mia's book. The apostrophe and s show that the book belongs to her.

**Tip.** Don't mix up plural -s with possessive 's. Two cats just means more than one cat, no apostrophe needed. The cat's tail means one cat owns a tail, so it needs the apostrophe. Ask yourself: does something belong to someone here?

**Recap.** To show that one person or thing owns something, put an apostrophe right before the s.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Regular Plural Nouns](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/regular-plural-nouns-mt_18qkgxr_-T)
- [Spelling Contracted Forms](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-contracted-forms-mt_IntmJBg4VQ)
- [Basic Nouns & Verbs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/basic-nouns-and-verbs-mt_yBJyCfhtem)

## Opens up

- [Plural vs Possessive in Nouns](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/plural-vs-possessive-in-nouns-mt_bn5ggh84qD)
- [Apostrophes for possession (age 7+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-for-possession-age-7-mt_HdI1y5KsBl)
- [Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-contraction-and-possession-mt_mKAZTqItRG)