Apostrophe Before S
In most cases, we add an apostrophe before s for singular nouns to show possession. For example, dog owned by Jack -> Jack‘s dog, wallet belongs to Jim -> Jim‘s wallet, etc.
Examples:
- The children’s room
- The men’s work
- The women’s club
- A ship’s captain
- A doctor’s patient
- A car’s engine
Example sentences:
- The girl’s hands were chapped by the cold.
- The cat’s toy was missing.
- John’s attempts to solve the problem were rewarded.
Apostrophe Rules for Possession (Possessive Apostrophe Image)

Apostrophe After S
For plural nouns, we simply add an apostrophe after s except for those few plural nouns that do not end in s.
Examples:
- Boys’ ball
- Babies’ shoes
- Lemons’ acidity
- Owls’ eyes
- Students’ bag
- Two girls’ dresses
Example sentences:
- The tables’ legs were all wobbly and needed repair.
- Cherries’ stones can break your teeth if you are not careful.
- People are prepared to pay high prices for designers’ clothes.
Note:
We use an apostrophe and an –s to indicate the plural form of lowercase letters.
Example:
- You need to write your l’s more legibly.
Apostrophe (‘) Image
