When you want to show that something belongs to a species, you may get confused between Species’ or Species’s. Don’t worry! We are here to clear this up for you.
In this article, we’ll explain:
- How to make a species possessive.
- What happens when you talk about more than one species.
- And a simple trick to know which form is correct!
Let’s break this down in a way that’s easy to understand.
What Does Possessive Mean?
Before we dive in, let’s first talk about what “possessive” means. Possessive is a grammar rule that shows ownership. For example:
- Lily’s dog = The dog belongs to Lily.
- Anna’s book = The book belongs to Anna.
In our case, we’re talking about species. If something belongs to a species, we use a possessive form to show that.
Singular Possessive: Species’s or Species’
What Is Singular Possessive?
A singular possessive shows that one thing belongs to one species. In general, if the species’ name does not end in s, we add ’s to show possession.
For example:
- The tiger’s habitat (The habitat belongs to the tiger.)
- The dog’s tail (The tail belongs to the dog.)
But does “species” end in s? Let’s take a closer look.
Singular Possessive for Species
- Since species already ends with s, the rule says you can either add ’ or ’s for possessive. However, in modern English, we usually prefer species’ to show possession.
For example:
- The species’ characteristics (The characteristics belong to the species.)
- The species’ needs (The needs belong to the species.)
Here’s the key takeaway for singular possession: While species’s is sometimes acceptable, most people use species’ to show possession.
Table: Singular Possessive Forms
| Word | Possessive Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger | Tiger’s | The tiger’s paws are soft. |
| Species | Species’ | The species’ behavior is unique. |
Plural Possessive: Species’
What Is Plural Possessive?
A plural possessive shows that something belongs to more than one species. When you’re talking about two or more species, you treat species like a word that already ends in s.
For example:
- The lions’ dens (The dens belong to the lions.)
- The dogs’ collars (The collars belong to the dogs.)
Now, let’s talk about how this works for species.
Plural Possessive for Species
When you talk about many species, the word species doesn’t change—it’s the same whether you talk about one or many. Since species already ends in s, to make it possessive in plural form, you just add an ’.
For example:
- The species’ habitats (The habitats belong to the species.)
- The species’ traits (The traits belong to the species.)
So when we refer to more than one species and something belonging to them, we use species’.
Table: Plural Possessive Forms
| Word | Possessive Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | Lions’ | The lions’ roar echoed in the valley. |
| Species | Species’ | The species’ migration patterns are interesting. |
Plural Forms: Just Species
What Is Plural Form?
Now, we know species can also be plural, but the word species doesn’t change when you make it plural. It stays the same whether you are talking about one species or many species.
For example:
- The tiger is an endangered species.
- Many species are endangered.
No matter how many species you talk about, we use species for both singular and plural.
Table: Singular and Plural Forms of Species
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Species | Species |
Quick Summary
Let’s wrap up what we’ve learned:
- Singular Possessive:
- To show ownership of something by one species, use species’.
- Example: The species’ diet (The diet of one species).
- Plural Possessive:
- To show ownership by more than one species, use species’ as well.
- Example: The species’ habitats (The habitats of many species).
- Plural Form:
- The word species is the same whether you’re talking about one species or multiple species.
By remembering these simple rules, you’ll be able to easily use species’ or species’s correctly.
I hope this article helped! Next time you need to talk about species and possession, you’ll know exactly what to do!
