How to make the possessive?

Question

Say you own a company and I own a company. If I want to talk about both of our companies, how would I say it? I want to say "This will provide an increased level of security for our customers, as well as protect our company's reputation." But apostrophe s is not right, since I'm referring to both our companies. Is it companies's or companies' or what?

Answer 1

Companies' is correct. First you make it plural and then you add the apostrophe. You don't need to add another "s" if the plural already ends in "s."

Answer 2

Company Plural Possessive

Answer 3

Answers 1, 2, 4, and 5, are right. However, you'd also have to add an 's' to the word 'reputation' since if there's more than one company, there's more than one reputation, and this makes for an awkward structure. I think it would be a great improvement to say 'protect the reputations of our companies.'

Answer 4

companies'

Here is why

possessive noun tells us who (or what) owns or has something. Possessives answer the question "Whose?" Study the following rule and examples and then try the practice exercises.

Rule 1: to make a singular word possessive, just add 's
Tom => Tom's fault
Kathy => Kathy's job
the doctor => the doctor's coat
the Jones => the Jones's house





Possessive nouns (plural)
Plural nouns follow slightly different rules for making them possessive. Study the following rules and then complete the practice exercises.

Rule 1: add ' to a regular plural noun which ends in s
dogs => dogs' leashes
teachers => teachers' desks



Rule 2: if the plural noun does not end in s, add 's
geese => geese's pond
children => children's rollerblades

Answer 5

It should be companies', since you're talking about the plural possessive.

Answer 6

Singular-company's
Plural-companies'

You are talking about more than one company in the possessive so you would use companies'.

Answer 7

's