Persons: something belongs to someone:

A word not ending in s gets  ‘s

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John’s book / The boy’s shoes / The children’s toys

 

A word ending in  S gets  ‘  (the apostrophhe)  

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The ladies’ department / The girls’ room

 

A name ending in S gets  ‘s

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Bas’s book / Charles’s car / Bridget Jones’s diary

 

THINGS: IF A THING BELONGS TO  ANOTHER THING you use of  :

 

The colour of the door / the top of the table

 

EXCEPTIONS TO THE OF-RULE

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PLACES:   The butcher’s / The baker’s / St. Paul’s Cathedral

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DISTANCES:  At a one mile’s distance / At a two miles’ distance

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TIME:  A one week’s holiday / A two weeks’ holiday

            Yesterday’s paper / Today’s work

 

ANIMALS:   A bird’s nest / The dog’s basket