This lesson will help clear up the confusion when using ‘s’ for singular pronouns ending in ‘s’ or with the ‘z’ sound. We had some questions about this after one of my earlier English pronunciation lessons
Hi James
Nice class!
Weel, i got stuck sometimes to use (‘s and s’). Could you check for me, if this sentences are rights ?
“The dog of Chris ate the food.”
Which one is correct ?
1 – Chris’s dog ate the food.
2 – Chris’ dog ate the food
If you can send me an answers, i’ll be glad.
Rey
Reinoni
Both of them are correct, as james explained in the lesson.
The first case is usual case.
In the second case we take of the ‘s’ because the pronunciation is difficult. If you use this form, you must use it through out of the whole document, otherwise, it becomes confusing!
Obey
That’s right, you got it!
engVid
the sentence which is correct is the first one
hasna
number 1 is corect
habibid69
The First one is correct, in order to show
Possession. The “s” in subject Chris’s shows us that The Dog it belonged to Chris even though name Chris end with “s” you need to add the apostrophe after the “s”
alam.noor
Well done
kotoz
amm confusin’ I guess the first statement is the right one:D
Fj~
the second is correct
ittp
HEY, YOU ARE VERY GOOD ON ALL TOPIC THAT TEACH.
NOW I ASK THE QUESTION: HOW I CAN HANDLE PRONUNCIATION, THIS IS MY MAYOR PROBLEM; IF YOU CAN PLEASE HELP ME.
THANK YOU
JOSE10
JOSE10
thanks james!
adam arif
What happens when there are more than one James?
Say for arguments sake St James’s park was dedicated to two St James’s – how do you get that accross?
How will the reader know that the park is possed by two?
Another example (more likely to occur) would be when you say ‘The James’s household’ – how does that work when you want the reader to know that the household is the home of more than one person with the surname James?
Norman
This is a very rare and particular case, but first we need to make “James” plural — to show that there is more than one James family or saint. So it would become Jameses (pronounced the same as “James’s”). Then if we are talking about possession with the multiple Jameses, it will become Jameses’s or Jameses’. In this case, the first option is quite difficult to pronounce, so we might use the second. In thirty years of speaking English, I have never run into this, though!
engVid
you are good , hahahahahah
ibrahim
HI JAMES WHEN WE SAY THE OTHER PERSON THEN KEEP IT UP .WHAT IS THESE KINDS OF SENTENCES
NUMAN KHAN
can it use for ‘z’ too , if the pronunciation is difficult?
sama
Hello James, I would like to know which of these sentences is correct.
1. Rosel and John’s wedding
2. Rosel’s and John’s wedding
Thank you and hear from you soon^^
Em-em
Hi James !
Thank you for your nice lesson on the EngVid.By the way, I’d like to ask you a question: Could you tell me the meaning of “a couple of” ? Does that mean : 1)two or 2) a few ?
I’d appreciate your soon response.
Duc
where is the Quiz ? is important to do that
raja
I listen it before pronunciation .what is the pronunciation ???
Shayma EL.
when can i use he does not and he do not
mohd
James
so easy for you.
you did great lesson,I had lerned now. now means today. lol
thanks…
JOSE VALERIO
Hi James!
Thank you for that useful lesson.
with best wishes to you Edyta from Poland
edyta28
HI JAMES..
REALLY YOUR LECTURE IS VERY GOOD
THANKS V. MUCH
ahmed
this is amazing. How much money wasted in Berlitz and another unnecesary and unusefull intitutes.thank you guys.
ilprosecutor
I got it!!!
Before watching this lesson I was still confused, but now it’s crystal clear. Thank you to James, to engVid and to all of you.
Carla
Thanks James.
I like it.
Yus
Thanks!
pashalost
Hi James, My English teacher once said to me that “‘S” is actually for American English but “S'” is for British English.. so was that wrong? because from your explanation I conclude that I can actually use both regardless the dialect.
Skeith
Hi dear James..
i am in serious trouble ,i am facing spelling mistakes problem…i forgot the spelling of one word that i may write right in previous paragraph…i am so confused what to do and what not…i have write an essay of 3000+ words in one of my CSS exam..i need your help…looking forward for your reply
farhat
Pretty much he explained the use of ‘s and s’, the key is consistency, if you start using one when your are writing something, you must use it throughout… pretty clear to me…. and I just been in contact with English for 4 months only, since I came to the US. Keep up the good work James, your helping Cubans like me understand and enjoy the language
Victor
James, you are the man. Thanks
cesardedegreat
Hello James,, could you plz let e know about
ajaypal singh
Hi Mr. James,
thank you for your videos. this is my first post. i would like to ask you what is the different from this words.
James’s Condom .. ahaha I like that part .. thanks james.
it’s very helpful
Sai
Hello James,
Now, that was a complete bouncer. LOL
Still confused with ‘S and S’
mtalwar18
OK now, ‘S is understood.
Please answer this now:-
1. childrens’ hat/hats
Here children=plural noun, so it means talk is about is about more than one child for ONE hat or TWO hats
Which one is correct and why? OR both are correct?
Cheers
mtalwar18
thanks. it is a good lesson.
pyuriy
great teacher!
superstreetbikedude
What if there are 2 James who own a Snake. Would it be:
James’s Snake
Claudia
Hi James,
I would like to ask you regarding to this topic.
Do we say
1. “group presentation” or group’s presentation”
2. “door handle” or door’s handle”
Could you please explain why it should be so?
Thank you
ZAO
You are my favourite teacher!!! I wish you all the best!!! :)
Rimma
You a always right I love love love love you!!!!
Lola
thanks for the lesson James
argenis
Thank you very much for this lesson. It will help me a lot.
Bajra
then james’s it’s right
thanks a lot for your time
elkrespo
This is the best teacher in the world ever!!
julia chol
Is it the same rule with plural nouns?
Kids’s toys.
Kids’ toys.
Is it correct?
Lenochka31
I see all yours lessons without quiz, but really you have good methods for teaching.
khalid subhi
hi
i got one question,
what is difference Apostrophe-“s” and “of ”?
I know, and checked with grammar books, that
“apostrophe s” is used with people and animals (animate) and
“of” is used with things (inanimate), as shown bellow:
*The color of the house…
*Tom’s new baseball glove…
In my English textbook, there is a sentence:
“The leader of the Mongols… .”
Is it incorrect to say,
“the Mongols’ leader…” ?
Nicolas93
Thanks for another great lesson James. I love your teaching style and your sense of humour; grammar is not the most thrilling of subjects but with you it turns into something fun. Keep up the good work! The way you guys devote your precious time to teach people for free is admirable. There will always be people who point out at mistakes in an insensitive or downright rude manner, or demand answers as if you have the obligation to correct their work, but please don’t let that discourage you. Your work makes a difference in people’s lives, it certainly does for me, as I can’t afford to pay private tuition. Thanks again to all of you for your generosity and the great work you do.
Klamery
Sir James thanks for this good lesson i want to learn more English.
villacampa155
I like when you’re teaching. :) !
Marimar
thank you James!
Andahazy
It’s great to learn with teacher like you, Thanks a lot!!!
FABIAN TAPIA
Hello James, video was really good but I’ve one question which is not particularly related.
Question is like
“everyone reminds” is correct then
why “to reminds everyone” is not
can you tell me a trick so I can apply ‘s’ at the end of the word properly to make it ‘plural and singular’ what so ever is needed for correct grammar
Sidhant
Hello, James. Thank you for your video, it was very helpful. I like the way you teach.
I still have 3 doubts about apostrophe +s, if you or anyone could help me I’d be very grateful.
1. Does this pronunciation also goes for noun that are not proper? For instance, how would I pronounce “My boss’s car”? Do I also “double” that last “s” in spoken English?
2. I learned that in the case of singular nouns ending in “s”, if the next word starts with “s” I should use just the apostrophe. For instance: “James’ sister”. Is that right? What would be the right pronunciation in this case?
3. In the situation I’m talking about 2 or more objects being possessed by 2 or more people together. For example, if Melissa and Joana have 2 houses together (and not each one with their respective house), what would be the right option: “Joana and Melissa’s houses” or “Joana’s and Melissa’s houses”?
TeacherCassie
Thank you a lot Mr.James
federer88
hi. could you tell me if “human’s comfort ” is right or wrong ? if wrong , tell me the why.
salma666
I recognized the Final Fantasy Victory’s theme. XD
Lorcy Gabriel
Thank you so much, you are the best, I feel have made progress in English language, with these videos, thank for your amazing word to help people like us. Thank teacher.
Marta Lopez
James thank you ever so much. This is one that has always given me fits. So as I write this I now have a question for the written word. If I am talking about the fit I have then is it my fit’s or my fits. The way I have been doing it just adding an s. To my way of thinking, if the fit is mine then they are my fit’s. If we are talking about the amount then it would be fits? Oh yeah and it’s not nice to tease the Maple Leafs, they can’t help it. I used this in a story titled Lord Stanley. What does the titanic and the Toronto Maple Leafs have in common? They are both great until they hit the ice. Da-bum-dum
Nyre
I can understand that possessive questions may be ended by “-‘s” in singular and by “-s'” or “-s’s” in plural but there are some exceptions where you don’t need to use the possessive and you use “of”, then we have to study the cases when we can use the apostrophe of the possessive and when we use “of”. Another question is, if he possessive is the same that the Saxon Genitive. Thanks a lot teacher James from EngVid, good performance and explanation.
angardiobel
Thanks!
Jonathas Wilhem
Hi James. I have a question here. If there more than one boys who are owning a toy. I can you say the boys’ toy or the boys’s toy? Which is correct and preferable?
Hassan Konneh
Thanks!
shihai182
Hello James
I like of yours classes.
Thank you
Ilo.iG
Dear James! Can you help me to solve this. Can we have many apostrophes in one sentences as given below or is there any other rule when it comes to sentence like this.
1) Martin’s parents’ neighbor’s dog is too noisy.
Haseena Shakir
Susan’s Geometry test / tests results leave much to be desired.Please tell me test or tests fits in this sentence.
Haseena Shakir
Hello James! Thank you so much for your videos, they are of significant value.
Learn English for free with 2127 video lessons by experienced teachers. Classes cover English grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, IELTS, TOEFL, and more. Join millions of English learners worldwide who are improving every day with engVid.
70 COMMENTS
Hi James
Nice class!
Weel, i got stuck sometimes to use (‘s and s’). Could you check for me, if this sentences are rights ?
“The dog of Chris ate the food.”
Which one is correct ?
1 – Chris’s dog ate the food.
2 – Chris’ dog ate the food
If you can send me an answers, i’ll be glad.
Rey
Both of them are correct, as james explained in the lesson.
The first case is usual case.
In the second case we take of the ‘s’ because the pronunciation is difficult. If you use this form, you must use it through out of the whole document, otherwise, it becomes confusing!
That’s right, you got it!
the sentence which is correct is the first one
number 1 is corect
The First one is correct, in order to show
Possession. The “s” in subject Chris’s shows us that The Dog it belonged to Chris even though name Chris end with “s” you need to add the apostrophe after the “s”
Well done
amm confusin’ I guess the first statement is the right one:D
the second is correct
HEY, YOU ARE VERY GOOD ON ALL TOPIC THAT TEACH.
NOW I ASK THE QUESTION: HOW I CAN HANDLE PRONUNCIATION, THIS IS MY MAYOR PROBLEM; IF YOU CAN PLEASE HELP ME.
THANK YOU
JOSE10
thanks james!
What happens when there are more than one James?
Say for arguments sake St James’s park was dedicated to two St James’s – how do you get that accross?
How will the reader know that the park is possed by two?
Another example (more likely to occur) would be when you say ‘The James’s household’ – how does that work when you want the reader to know that the household is the home of more than one person with the surname James?
This is a very rare and particular case, but first we need to make “James” plural — to show that there is more than one James family or saint. So it would become Jameses (pronounced the same as “James’s”). Then if we are talking about possession with the multiple Jameses, it will become Jameses’s or Jameses’. In this case, the first option is quite difficult to pronounce, so we might use the second. In thirty years of speaking English, I have never run into this, though!
you are good , hahahahahah
HI JAMES WHEN WE SAY THE OTHER PERSON THEN KEEP IT UP .WHAT IS THESE KINDS OF SENTENCES
can it use for ‘z’ too , if the pronunciation is difficult?
Hello James, I would like to know which of these sentences is correct.
1. Rosel and John’s wedding
2. Rosel’s and John’s wedding
Thank you and hear from you soon^^
Hi James !
Thank you for your nice lesson on the EngVid.By the way, I’d like to ask you a question: Could you tell me the meaning of “a couple of” ? Does that mean : 1)two or 2) a few ?
I’d appreciate your soon response.
where is the Quiz ? is important to do that
I listen it before pronunciation .what is the pronunciation ???
when can i use he does not and he do not
James
so easy for you.
you did great lesson,I had lerned now. now means today. lol
thanks…
Hi James!
Thank you for that useful lesson.
with best wishes to you Edyta from Poland
HI JAMES..
REALLY YOUR LECTURE IS VERY GOOD
THANKS V. MUCH
this is amazing. How much money wasted in Berlitz and another unnecesary and unusefull intitutes.thank you guys.
I got it!!!
Before watching this lesson I was still confused, but now it’s crystal clear. Thank you to James, to engVid and to all of you.
Thanks James.
I like it.
Thanks!
Hi James, My English teacher once said to me that “‘S” is actually for American English but “S'” is for British English.. so was that wrong? because from your explanation I conclude that I can actually use both regardless the dialect.
Hi dear James..
i am in serious trouble ,i am facing spelling mistakes problem…i forgot the spelling of one word that i may write right in previous paragraph…i am so confused what to do and what not…i have write an essay of 3000+ words in one of my CSS exam..i need your help…looking forward for your reply
Pretty much he explained the use of ‘s and s’, the key is consistency, if you start using one when your are writing something, you must use it throughout… pretty clear to me…. and I just been in contact with English for 4 months only, since I came to the US. Keep up the good work James, your helping Cubans like me understand and enjoy the language
James, you are the man. Thanks
Hello James,, could you plz let e know about
Hi Mr. James,
thank you for your videos. this is my first post. i would like to ask you what is the different from this words.
1. urgent matters calls only.
2. urgent matters call only.
what is the different. should we add “s” or not.
thanks in advance.
waiting your answer.
i love this site.
thank you very much.
James’s Condom .. ahaha I like that part .. thanks james.
it’s very helpful
Hello James,
Now, that was a complete bouncer. LOL
Still confused with ‘S and S’
OK now, ‘S is understood.
Please answer this now:-
1. childrens’ hat/hats
Here children=plural noun, so it means talk is about is about more than one child for ONE hat or TWO hats
Which one is correct and why? OR both are correct?
Cheers
thanks. it is a good lesson.
great teacher!
What if there are 2 James who own a Snake. Would it be:
James’s Snake
Hi James,
I would like to ask you regarding to this topic.
Do we say
1. “group presentation” or group’s presentation”
2. “door handle” or door’s handle”
Could you please explain why it should be so?
Thank you
You are my favourite teacher!!! I wish you all the best!!! :)
You a always right I love love love love you!!!!
thanks for the lesson James
Thank you very much for this lesson. It will help me a lot.
then james’s it’s right
thanks a lot for your time
This is the best teacher in the world ever!!
Is it the same rule with plural nouns?
Kids’s toys.
Kids’ toys.
Is it correct?
I see all yours lessons without quiz, but really you have good methods for teaching.
hi
i got one question,
what is difference Apostrophe-“s” and “of ”?
I know, and checked with grammar books, that
“apostrophe s” is used with people and animals (animate) and
“of” is used with things (inanimate), as shown bellow:
*The color of the house…
*Tom’s new baseball glove…
In my English textbook, there is a sentence:
“The leader of the Mongols… .”
Is it incorrect to say,
“the Mongols’ leader…” ?
Thanks for another great lesson James. I love your teaching style and your sense of humour; grammar is not the most thrilling of subjects but with you it turns into something fun. Keep up the good work! The way you guys devote your precious time to teach people for free is admirable. There will always be people who point out at mistakes in an insensitive or downright rude manner, or demand answers as if you have the obligation to correct their work, but please don’t let that discourage you. Your work makes a difference in people’s lives, it certainly does for me, as I can’t afford to pay private tuition. Thanks again to all of you for your generosity and the great work you do.
Sir James thanks for this good lesson i want to learn more English.
I like when you’re teaching. :) !
thank you James!
It’s great to learn with teacher like you, Thanks a lot!!!
Hello James, video was really good but I’ve one question which is not particularly related.
Question is like
“everyone reminds” is correct then
why “to reminds everyone” is not
can you tell me a trick so I can apply ‘s’ at the end of the word properly to make it ‘plural and singular’ what so ever is needed for correct grammar
Hello, James. Thank you for your video, it was very helpful. I like the way you teach.
I still have 3 doubts about apostrophe +s, if you or anyone could help me I’d be very grateful.
1. Does this pronunciation also goes for noun that are not proper? For instance, how would I pronounce “My boss’s car”? Do I also “double” that last “s” in spoken English?
2. I learned that in the case of singular nouns ending in “s”, if the next word starts with “s” I should use just the apostrophe. For instance: “James’ sister”. Is that right? What would be the right pronunciation in this case?
3. In the situation I’m talking about 2 or more objects being possessed by 2 or more people together. For example, if Melissa and Joana have 2 houses together (and not each one with their respective house), what would be the right option: “Joana and Melissa’s houses” or “Joana’s and Melissa’s houses”?
Thank you a lot Mr.James
hi. could you tell me if “human’s comfort ” is right or wrong ? if wrong , tell me the why.
I recognized the Final Fantasy Victory’s theme. XD
Thank you so much, you are the best, I feel have made progress in English language, with these videos, thank for your amazing word to help people like us. Thank teacher.
James thank you ever so much. This is one that has always given me fits. So as I write this I now have a question for the written word. If I am talking about the fit I have then is it my fit’s or my fits. The way I have been doing it just adding an s. To my way of thinking, if the fit is mine then they are my fit’s. If we are talking about the amount then it would be fits? Oh yeah and it’s not nice to tease the Maple Leafs, they can’t help it. I used this in a story titled Lord Stanley. What does the titanic and the Toronto Maple Leafs have in common? They are both great until they hit the ice. Da-bum-dum
I can understand that possessive questions may be ended by “-‘s” in singular and by “-s'” or “-s’s” in plural but there are some exceptions where you don’t need to use the possessive and you use “of”, then we have to study the cases when we can use the apostrophe of the possessive and when we use “of”. Another question is, if he possessive is the same that the Saxon Genitive. Thanks a lot teacher James from EngVid, good performance and explanation.
Thanks!
Hi James. I have a question here. If there more than one boys who are owning a toy. I can you say the boys’ toy or the boys’s toy? Which is correct and preferable?
Thanks!
Hello James
I like of yours classes.
Thank you
Dear James! Can you help me to solve this. Can we have many apostrophes in one sentences as given below or is there any other rule when it comes to sentence like this.
1) Martin’s parents’ neighbor’s dog is too noisy.
Susan’s Geometry test / tests results leave much to be desired.Please tell me test or tests fits in this sentence.
Hello James! Thank you so much for your videos, they are of significant value.