Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I wrote “our sycamore” above, but great trees defy possessives.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2024

His world, at least as related to the tiny mark that denotes possessives and the omission of letters from certain words, appears to be crashing down around him.

From Slate • May 23, 2013

Booker Prize-winning author James Kelman uses apostrophes for possessives but not for contractions in his most recent work.

From Slate • May 23, 2013

For an acquisitive society, were awfully careless about possessives.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

There's more on its versus it's in the chapter on possessives, pages 37-38.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner