Possessive Noun

The Noun : Possessive Case

Nouns are considered in possessive or genitive case when they are used to show possession or ownership
When forming the possessive or genitive case of English nouns, an apostrophe (') or apostrophe + 's' ('s) is necessary. For forming the possessive the general rule is to use 's' along with the apostrophe to the end of each noun. The plural noun that ends with 's' require the addition of an apostrophe to form the possessive.
The possessive in a sentence answers the question, 'Whose?'

If the noun is living we use apostrophe or apostrophe + s to make it possessive & if the noun is non - living we make it possessive by using 'of'  pattern:

Living -  Noun 's + possession or ownership.

Non-living -  Possession + of + Noun.

 
E.g. -  

Ram's pen has been lost.

Rekha's watch is costly.

The car's wheel is punctured. (Incorrect )
The wheel of the car is punctured. (Correct)

The paper's colour is white. (Incorrect)
The colour of the paper is white. (Correct)

Rules - 

Now let's focus on some rules for the use of apostrophe 's' or possessive noun.

1)The Possessive Case is generally used with the nouns of living things.
But there are two points that
Noun is singular or plural in number. 

If the noun is in singular form, add ('s)
Boy's book
Student's problem

If a noun is plural in form &  ends in ' s', add an apostrophe (') only.   

• Girls'  college
• Students' problem.

If the noun is  plural in form (but' s' suffix is not in the end of the noun) use apostrophe + 's'  ('s)

• Women's club
• Children's library

2) Non-living things or objects are used in possessive case when they are personified. 

Examples - 

• Nature's law,  
• At death's door,  
• At duty's call,      
• Earth's surface.

3) Possessive Case is used with nouns denoting time, space, or weight.

• A week's holiday,  
• Three days' leave.

• A stone's throw,  
• A metre 's length.

• A pound' s weight, 
• A kilo's weight.

4) If two or more nouns jointly possess something then possessive sign ('s)  is put
On the latter only.
Example  - 

Mohan's and Sohan's school is very far. ✗ (Incorrect)

Mohan and Sohan's school is very far.✓  (Correct)

5) If two or more nouns show  separate possession, possessive sign ('s)  is put to each noun.  
Mohan's and Sohan's houses are under construction.
Dinkar's and Nirala's poems are popular. 

6) Possessive sign ('s) is used with the last word of a compound noun.

My sister's - in - law house is very beautiful. (Incorrect)
My sister - in - law's house is very beautiful.  (Correct)

The Government's of India policy is beneficial .       (Incorrect)
The Government of India's policy is beneficial .       (Correct)

7) When two nouns are in apposition,  Possessive sign is put to the latter only.

Tagore's , the poet's  famous book is Gitanjali.                             (Incorrect)
Tagore, the poet's famous book is Gitanjali.                                                ( Correct)

It is my friend's Hari's house. (Incorrect)
It is my friend, Hari's house. (Correct)

8) Apostrophe is not used with two consecutive nouns. (Double possessive case)

Possession + of + first noun's +second noun

Riya's sister's watch has lost. (Incorrect)
The watch of Riya's sister has  lost. (Correct)
 
Rohan's shirt 's colour is nice. (Incorrect)
The colour of Rohan' s shirt is nice. (correct)

9) Possessive sign is not used with possessive pronouns like mine, his hers, yours, ours, its, theirs.
Example -
This book is your's. (Incorrect)
This book is yours. (Correct)

10) If else is used after somebody, nobody, anybody etc then apostrophe is used with else.
This book is not mine, it is somebody's else. (Incorrect)
This book is not mine, it is somebody else's.
(Correct)