-'s

(Pronounced [[t]-s[/t]] after the consonant sounds [[t]p, t, k, f[/t]] or [[t]θ[/t]], and [[t]-ɪz[/t]] after the consonant sounds [[t]s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ[/t]] or [[t]ʤ[/t]]. After other sounds -'s is pronounced [[t]-z[/t]]. A final -s' is pronounced in the same way as a final -s.)

1) -'s is added to nouns to form possessives. However, with plural nouns ending in `-s', and sometimes with names ending in `-s', you form the possessive by adding -'.

...the chairman's son.

...Britain's coal mines.

...women's rights.

...a boys' boarding-school.

...Sir Charles' car.

2) -'s is the usual spoken form of `is'. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `he is' and `she is' can be shortened to `he's' and `she's'.

3) -'s is the usual spoken form of `has', especially where `has' is an auxiliary verb. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `It has gone' can be shortened to `It's gone'.

4) -'s is sometimes added to numbers, letters, and abbreviations to form plurals, although many people think you should just add `-s'.

...new strategies for the 1990s.

...p's and q's.