Compound Possessive Nouns & Pronouns
Today’s post explores compound possessives with pronouns.
For example:
- Is Windy the cairn terrier Alan and my dog?
- Is Windy the cairn terrier Alan’s and my dog?
- Is Windy the cairn terrier Alan and I’s dog?
Which one is correct? Before we answer let’s define compound possessives and then look at how to write them in a sentence with pronouns.
What Are Compound Possessives?
Compound possessives (also called joint possessives), occur when two or more nouns (usually names) share ownership of something. Compound possessives can also include one or more pronouns instead of nouns.
Compound Possessive: Mr. Heckle and Mr. Jeckle’s cat tree is in the living room. (Mr. Heckle and Mr. Jeckle share one cat tree.)
Compound Possessive with a Pronoun: John’s and her car is in the driveway. (John and a woman, indicated by the pronoun her, share one car.)
Important Reminder: When using a nonpersonal pronoun (e.g., he, his, she, her, they, their, it), ensure that the pronoun is identified earlier in the content. For example: “Do you know where Kate is? No, but John’s and her car is in the driveway.” (Kate is identified early, so we know the pronoun her is speaking about Kate.)
How to Write Compound Possessives with Pronouns
Possession is usually indicated by attaching an ‘s to a noun. However, only contracted pronouns (e.g., it’s for it is) end with an apostrophe s.
To show pronoun ownership, we rely on the possessive forms, such as my, mine, his, her, hers, their, theirs, our, ours, and its.
So, if we return to the question of Windy the Cairn terrier’s ownership, we can eliminate Alan and I’s dog as a possible option because ‘I’ isn’t a possessive pronoun.
Now we are left with Alan and my dog versus Alan’s and my dog.
When combining nouns and pronouns in compound possession, attach an apostrophe s to each noun.
In this case, the noun is Alan. Therefore, the correct format is to attach an s – Alan’s and my dog.
By attaching an apostrophe s to each noun, we avoid awkward sentences like “Alan and my dog Windy,” which could mistakenly be interpreted as “Alan, and a dog named Windy.”
Of course, we all know that no one actually owns a dog—dogs own us!
Take this tiny quiz, and then we’ll go over the rules for forming compound possessives once more. (The quiz really is tiny. It’s only two questions!)
1. ____________ dog dug up my garden. (Enter A or B)
a) Mary and John’s
b) Mary’s and John’s
2. ______________ cat chased their dog. (Enter A, B or C)
a) Dan and my
b) Dan’s and my
c) Dan and my’s
Before I tell you the answers, let’s check out the rules for compound possessives once more, so hopefully you gain a better understanding.
Compound Possessive Nouns
Two or More Owners Sharing Ownership
When you have two or more nouns that you’re making into a compound possessive, add ‘s to only the last noun if the nouns are functioning as one unit.
Margo and Martha’s business was booming.
This means that Margo and Martha share ownership of a booming business. Since Margo and Martha are working together at one business, we only add the ‘s to the last noun, Martha.
Two or More Owners With Separate Ownership
When you have two or more nouns that you are making into a compound possessive, add ‘s to both nouns if they are functioning separately.
Margo’s and Martha’s businesses were booming.
This means that Margo and Martha have separate businesses that were booming. Since they own different businesses, we add the ‘s to both Margo and Martha.
Compound Possessive Nouns & Pronouns
You just learned that if the possessive nouns are functioning as one unit, you should only add the ‘s to the last noun in the series. But what should you do if you are adding a possessive personal pronoun into the mix?!
In that case, add an ‘s to the noun that comes before the pronoun. You don’t have to add an ‘s to the pronoun because it’s already possessive without the apostrophe.
Bill’s and my cat ate dog food.
The car is Elizabeth’s and mine.
Today is Jeremy, Catherine’s, and my last day of school.
Quiz Answers
1. a) Mary and John’s dog dug up my garden.
Since this dog belongs to both Mary and John, the apostrophe goes only after the noun John. They both share the dog, and they both share the apostrophe.
2. b) Dan’s and my cat chased their dog.
Since this has a noun and a possessive personal pronoun (my), the noun Dan needs to have an ‘s. The possessive personal pronoun my doesn’t need an ‘s because it is already possessive.
Hope this lesson helps you better understand.
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AGH / Feb. 2020