University of CaraboboFaculty of Sciences of Education

School of Education

Members of the Family& Possessive Relationships

CREATED BY:Ana Pérez

Wilmer BarretoZorarge Sánchez

Hello and welcome. We would like to take you in a journey with us on a train of knowlegde.

Do you want to come with us?Yes? Then get on board

Before taking off, we would like to share an interesting story with you.

Read it carefully!

A FAMILY GATHERING

Last weekend, I was in my mother’s friend’s house because my mother’s friend’s daughter was

pregnant and we were celebrating my mother’s friend’s daughter’s son’s baby shower. There were lots of people there: my mother’s friend’s mother,

my mother’s friend’s daughter’s husband, my mother’s friend’s daughter’s husband’s brother’s

sons, my mother’s friend’s daughter’s grandparents, among others. We all had a really

good time.

Now, can you answer the next question about what you just read?

Is my mother’s friend’s mother related to my mother’s friend’s daughter’s mother-in-law?

CONFUSED?

Bet you are

But do not worry, today you will learn:

- New vocabulary related to family.- How to use the apostrophe (‘)(‘s) to indicate a

relationship of possession.

INTRODUCING NEW VOCABULARY

Let us get to know a special guy’s family:

John’s family

But first, let us tell you a few things about John.

John is a 23-year-old lawyer who’s married and

has two children, a boy and a girl. His

grandparents are still alive on both parents sides,

as well as his parents. He has an older brother

and a younger sister, and two favorite uncles. He

also has two adorable nephews.

Now, check your comprehension on John’s family biography by clicking on the correct answer.

1) Are Jonh’s grandparents dead? YES - NO

2) Does John have two children? YES - NO

3) Are John’s siblings younger than him? YES - NO

4) Does he have two favorite uncles? YES - NO

GOOD!

Now that you know more about John and his family, it is time to introduce them to you.

Click on each of the next pictures to know all Jonh’s family members.

Ronald Isabel Oscar Elissa

George Carmen RossHelen

Robert Sarah Christian JessicaJOHN

SeleneXander

Zoe Seth

Nice! Now you know all John’s family members.Let us see if you have good memory.

Click on the right answer.

Who is this guy?

- John's father

- John’s cousin

- John’s brother

- John’s son

Is she John’s cousin?

Yes No

Who are they?

- John’s sister- John’s daughter- John’s cousin

- John’s mother- John’s sister- John’s daughter

Are these kids John’s sons?

Yes No

Is she John’s aunt?

- No, she is John’s cousin

- Yes, she is John’s aunt

- No, she is John’s mother

- No, she is John’s uncle

Congratulations!

Now you know all the vocabulary and you are ready to learn how to use the apostrophe (‘)(‘s) to

express relationships of possession.

INTRODUCING GRAMMAR

The apostrophe

(‘) – (‘s)

In simple words, it tells you that the word carrying the apostrophe holds a relationship

with the following one. I might be a relation of possession or parentage (when speaking about

family members).

Take a look at these examples:

1) John’s truck is bigger than Ross’s Car.’s → Indicates that John owns a truck and Ross

owns a car.

2) Carmen is John’s mother.’s → Indicates that there is a relationship

between Camen and John,

More examples:

3) Chris’s wife is Thomas’s friend.Notice that although both names end in “S” and it is not necessary to add the “S”, it is preferred

to add it anyway.

4) Kids’ favorite hobby is to study.Notice that with regular plurals the “S” is not

added.

Here you have seven basic rules to not misuse the apostrophe:

Rule 01 Rule 02 Rule 03

Rule 04 Rule 05 Rule 06

Rule 07

This is almost it!

Now you know new vocabulary and how to use the apostrophe in possessive relationships. To

challenge what you have learned, solve the following exercises:

Click on the correct answer

1) Your mother’s sister is your…? - Uncle - Aunt

2) Your father’s brother is your…? - Cousin - Uncle

Click on the correct answer

3) Your sister’s son is your…? - Cousin - Nephew

4) Your brother’s daughter is your…? - Niece - Aunt

Select which one of the following unscrambled statements is correct:

son/My/'s/is/my/nephew/'s/mother/daughter

- My daughter’s son’s nephew is my mother

- My mother's daughter's son is my nephew

- My son’s daughter mother’s is my nephew

Sister-in-law/'s/my/is/wife/ brother/My

- My brother's wife is my sister-in-law.- My wife is my sister-in-law’s brother.- My sister-in-law is my wife’s brother.

Is/my/mother/'s/wife/father/My

- My wife’s father is my mother.- My mother’s father is my wife.- My father's wife is my mother.

That’s all! Thanks for watching.

So long!

Place the apostrophe before the ”S” to show singular possession.

Examples: A boy's cousin; a woman's mother

Although names ending in ”S” or an ”S” sound are not required to have the second ”S” added in

possessive form, it is preferred.

Examples:Mr. Jones's sisters; Chris’s grandfather

Use the apostrophe where the noun that should follow is implied.

Examples:

- This was his father's, not John’s jacket. -

- It was not her fault, it was Selene’s. -

- I didn’t eat my food, I ate Carmen’s. -

To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe.

Examples:

- Two cousins' daughter -

- Two brothers’ car -

- Two grandmothers' house -

- Two children's parents -

With a singular compound noun, show possession with “S” at the end of the word.

Example:

My mother-in-law's hat

If the compound noun is plural, form the plural first and then use the apostrophe.

Example:

My two brothers-in-law's grandfather

Use the apostrophe and ”S” after the second name only if two people possess the same item.

Examples:

My father and mother’s house is constructed of redwood.

Christian and Robert’s job contracts will be renewed next year.

Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns:

his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours, whose

They already show possession so they do not require an apostrophe.

Example:

This book is hers, not yours.

RONALDThis is John’s grandfather on his father side.

ISABELThis is John’s grandmother on his father

side.

OSCARThis is John’s grandfather on his mother

side.

ELISSAThis is John’s grandmother on his mother

side.

GEORGEHe is John’s father.

CARMENShe is John’s mother.

JOHNThe guy we’ve been talking about.

HELENShe is Jonh’s aunt on his father side

ROSSHe is John’s uncle on his mother side

SARAHThis is John’s younger sister

CHRISTIANThis is John’s older brother

ROBERTHe is John’s cousin on his father side

JESSICAShe is John’s cousin on his mother side

ZOEThis is John’s daughter

SETHThis is John’s son

XANDERHe is John’s nephew

SELENEShe is John’s niece

Congratulations!Your answer is correct.

Sorry! Your answer is wrong.

You wasted your time here!

Great!!!!!! You learned indeed.