1. Understanding Possession

Possession refers to ownership or the relationship between nouns. There are two types of possession: joint possession and compound possession. Understanding these concepts is crucial for clarity in writing.

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2. Joint Possession

Joint possession occurs when two or more nouns share ownership of a single item. In this case, only the last noun in the series receives the possessive form.

a. Structure

• Use ‘s for the last noun to show possession.
• Example:
• Correct: Sarah and John’s project (the project belongs to both Sarah and John)

b. Common Errors

• Incorrect: Sarah’s and John’s project (implies each has a separate project)
• Correct: Sarah and John’s project

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3. Compound Possession

Compound possession occurs when two or more nouns own multiple items. Each noun in the compound needs to be possessive.

a. Structure

• Add ‘s to each noun to indicate individual ownership.
• Example:
• Correct: Sarah’s and John’s projects (each has their own project)

b. Common Errors

• Incorrect: Sarah and John’s projects (implies one shared project)
• Correct: Sarah’s and John’s projects

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4. Key Differences

Type	Description	Example
Joint Possession	Shared ownership of a single item	Mary and Tom’s house
Compound Possession	Individual ownership of multiple items	Mary’s and Tom’s houses

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