The case of nouns in possessive pronouns

Identifying the correct usage of some possessive pronouns

Generally, nouns that take possession have an apostrophe and ‘s’ used after them. In other forms, there might be an apostrophe if the noun already ends in plural or in s.

Examples of different cases that exist are: Michael’s book, Tolu’s car, families’ car, the kids’ toys, Victor and Cynthia’s car (multiple noun showing ownership), Sarah’s and Halima’s cars (showing separate ownership), father-in-law’s car, Social Security’s offices (in compound or hyphenated nouns) etc.

However, in a case where an item has been previously mentioned before indicating the owner of that item, it may just suffice to have a noun and just an apostrophe and ‘s’ after it.

1. I lost my pen and my sister’s pen.

2. I saw some money on the floor which I believed to be Michael’s money.

In the two examples above, the use of apostrophe and ‘s’ is used to avoid repeating same nouns (pen, some money) when it is crystal clear who the owners are. 

The two sentences can also be read thus:

1. I lost my pen and hers (possessive pronoun).

2. I saw some money on the floor which I believed to be his (possessive pronoun).

In one of my classes, I’ve argued that any of the possessive pronouns [=mine, his, hers, its, yours, ours, theirs) replaces nouns that are already showing possession or ownership—as you may have seen in the two examples above.

E.g This book is her book = This book is hers;

Please note that possessive pronouns do not take an apostrophe before or after the ‘s’

However, it is important to note that when we use that or those, we do not need to use an apostrophe and ‘s’ again.

1. I lost my pen and that of my brother.

2. I saw some money on the floor which I believed to be that of Michael.

The use of that has already pointed to the item we initially mentioned. Having an apostrophe and ‘s’ is therefore superfluous—highly unnecessary.

My own or mine?

It is important to avoid using or saying my own, his own, our own, their own, her own, your own as possessive pronouns. Instead, it is grammatically correct to use mine, his, ours, theirs, hers, yours as possessive pronouns. E.g This book is my own mine, their own theirs is to obey,

However, it is grammatically correct to say or write his own mother, our own teacher, my own book etc. In this case, there are identified nouns and own there functions as an emphasizing adjective; in the same vein, his, our, and my function as possessive adjectives mother, teacher, book respectively.

In addition to all this, expressions such as this your friend, those our books, that her car can be better written as this friend of yours, those books of ours, that car of hers respectively.

JAMB 2014: Choose the option that best complete the gap.

Those _____ are very beautiful. A. flowers of ours B. flowers of her C. flowers of her's D. our flowers

2. _____ is always superior to any other in town.  A. there’s    B. theirs      C. their’s   D. there

3. Invariably, he ends all his letters … faithfully.  A. your’s     B. yours      C.  yours’    D. your own