TALKING ABOUT OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION

Possession can be shown by using

Apostrophe ( ’ ) Possessive pronouns Preposition “of” Words “have”, “belong”, “own”, “possess”

Apostrophe

We use an apostrophe to show that a thing or person belongs or relates to someone or something: for example, instead of saying the book of Maganga or the homework of yesterday, you can write Maganga’s book and yesterday’s homework.

The main guidelines for using apostrophes to show possession:

o Common nouns do not end in s, both singular and plural

Add an apostrophe ' plus s:

Singular: A ship's captain, a doctor's patient, a car's engine

Plural: The children's room, the men's work, the women's club

o Common nouns that end in s, both singular and plural

Add an apostrophe ' after the s:

Bus’ materials, lens’ cover, glass’ container, boss’ suit

Plural: Scissors’ handle, trousers’ pockets, classes’ hours, shoes’ colour

The ladies' tennis club, the teachers' journal, the priests' church

o Proper nouns do not end in s

Add an apostrophe ' plus s:

Ibrahim's coat, Ashura's book.

o Proper nouns (names of people, cities, countries etc.) end in s

Either add apostrophe ' plus s or simply add apostrophe ' without s:

The Hughes' home (or the Hughes's home),

Mr Jones's shop (or Mr Jones' shop),

Charles' book (or Charles's book)

James’ car (or James’s car)

Possessive pronouns

We use possessive pronouns to refer to a specific person/people or thing/things (the "antecedent") belonging to a person/people (and sometimes belonging to an animal/animals or thing/things).

Personal pronouns and their possessive form

Possessive caseSubjective case Objective case Possessive adjectives Possessive for short answersingular plural singular plural singular plural singular plural

1st I we me us my our mine ours2nd you you you you your your yours yours3rd he

theyhim

themhis

theirhis

theirsshe her her hersit it its its

Examples: Personal pronouns in Objective case Examples: Personal pronouns in Possessive case

o Asha gave me a pen.o Teachers take us to a zoo.o Alcohol make you dizzy.o I wanted you to go home.o He keeps him company.o She calls her a mother.o We kick it very hard.

o My mother gives me a porridge every day.o We love our teacher very much.o Your brother is my friend.o Everybody take off your shoes.o He keeps his pen in a safe place.o She calls her mom in front of us.o A cat likes its food very much.

Is this yours?Yes, it’s mine. Yes it is mine. No, it’s not mine. No, it is not mine.

Is this your house?Yes, it’s ours. No, it’s not ours.

Is this my car?Yes, it’s yours.No, it’s not yours.

Is this book his?Yes, it’s his.No, it’s not his.

Is this cup hers?Yes, it’s hers.No, it’s not hers.

Is this food its?Yes, it’s its.No, it’s not its.

Are these flowers theirs?Yes, there are theirs.No, there aren’t theirs.

Preposition “of”

Examples:

She is a friend of Abdul.

This is a pen of my late father.

The windows of beggar’s house are big.

A wife of Mr. Masanja is a member of parliament.

Use of “have”Example: statementAnna has a house at Magogoni.We have a good white car.Our school has a large playing ground.He hasn’t a good wife.They haven’t enough money.My grandfather had a lot of houses in Dar es Salaam.

Examples: interrogativesIs Anna have a house at Magogoni?Are we have a good white car?Is our school has a large playing ground?Is he have a good wife?Are they have enough money?Was my grandfather have a lot of houses in Dar es Salaam?