The term sister’s is the singular possessive form of sister. E.g., “Tomorrow is my sister’s birthday.” Furthermore, the term sisters’ is the plural possessive. E.g., “My two sisters’ hobbies include painting and hiking.” Finally, sisters is the plural form. E.g., “My sisters are planning a surprise for me next weekend.”
This chart shows the four forms in a more straightforward format:
| Form | Example |
| Singular | Sister |
| Plural | Sisters |
| Singular possessive: | Sister’s |
| Plural possessive | Sisters’ |
As you can see, you only need to put the apostrophe when you use the possessive form of sister.
These four examples show how each term appears in a sentence:
Singular: I have an older sister named Emily
Plural: Both of my younger sisters excel in academics and sports.
Singular possessive: My sister’s advice on relationships is always thoughtful.
Plural possessive: Her sisters’ artwork is displayed in galleries across the city.
Please keep reading the rest of the article, where we explain how to use the different forms of sister in more detail.
We have some fantastic examples to show you how to use sister’s, sisters’, and sisters in a sentence.
Sister’s
The term sister’s is the singular possessive form of sister.
Therefore, you use it when you mention something belonging to a single sister.
The examples below show how you can use sister’s correctly.
In the first examples , we use the apostrophe to show that the possession belongs to Emily:
- My sister’s name is Emily
Whereas in the next examples, there is no specific possession mentioned, so you omit the apostrophe:
- My sister is an avid reader.
Furthermore, these two examples show how the possession can be both tangible and intangible.
The term can refer to a physical item like a car or a more abstract concept.
Here are some great examples of that context:
- My sister’s apartment has a beautiful view of the city skyline.
- I borrowed my sister’s camera for the photography class.
- Her support is invaluable; it’s like tapping into my sister’s strength.
- Have you seen my sister’s latest blog post? It’s quite insightful.
Alternatively, it can refer to characteristics, names, or personality traits.
Review these examples to see how sister’s can be used to refer to this:
- My sister’s sense of humor is unique; she always finds joy in little things.
- My sister’s dedication to fitness is impressive.
- Her sister’s compassion for animals is evident in her volunteer work.
- To sum up, you should use sister’s if one sister possesses something.
Now that we have that settled, let’s see when it is correct to use the word sisters’. It’s a bit different since it is used to refer to multiple sisters.
So, keep reading!
Sisters’
The term sisters’ is the plural possessive form of sister.
Consequently, that means you should put the apostrophe on the outside of the “s” when you refer to something belonging to two or more sisters.
Take a look at these two examples:
- My sisters’ achievements in academics and sports are noteworthy. (Two sisters/their achievements)
- The sisters’ bond is unbreakable, as demonstrated by their support for each other. (Unspecified number of sisters and their bond)
Here are some more example sentences for you to review:
- My two sisters’ room is a vibrant and creative space.
- The sisters’ collaborative cooking project received rave reviews from their friends.
- The two sisters’ musical talents harmonize beautifully during their performances.
- The sisters’ parents were delighted at their joint success.
- The gift was from the sisters’ shared savings.
So, sisters’ should be used if multiple sisters possess something.
Lastly, we’ll have a closer look at the word sisters. This one is quite different from the other two, sister’s and sisters’.
Sisters
The term sisters with no apostrophe is the plural form of sister.
You can use it to refer to two or more sisters as long as you are not mentioning something that a sister possesses.
You can use it to refer to a small or large number of sisters.
Here’s an example:
- All my friends’ sisters have diverse interests and talents.
Alternatively, it can refer to all sisters in a general sense.
You can refer to this example:
- Sisters often share unique experiences and memories that strengthen their bond.
We have gathered some more sentences in case you need to see some more examples of how to use sisters:
- My two sisters pursue careers in different fields – one in science and the other in the arts.
- I always cherish the stories she tells about her sisters and their adventures.
- The sisters are recognized in their community for their environmental advocacy.
- All of the sisters are avid travelers, exploring new destinations together.
- The sisters are planning a camping trip together next month.
So, sisters should only be used if multiple sisters are mentioned, and you don’t refer to any of their possessions in the sentence.
