Is “and I’s” Correct Grammar? The Right Way to Show Possession

When we talk about English grammar, one question that often arises is – Is “and I’s” Correct Grammar? At first glance, this phrase may sound right, but according to linguistic understanding and grammar rules, it’s actually incorrect. The English language follows specific syntax rules and semantic meaning, making “and I’s” a grammar mistake. Since I is a pronoun and not a possessive form, saying “John and I’s house” breaks grammatical structure and isn’t accepted in spoken or written English.

Learning such language rules helps improve communication skills and fluency. Understanding grammar usage, composition, and sentence structure enhances one’s ability to write and speak clearly. By analyzing grammaticality, rule exceptions, and usage context, learners gain a better understanding of proper expressions. Ultimately, avoiding incorrect forms like “and I’s” ensures writing clarity, accuracy, and strong language comprehension.

Introduction: Why “and I’s” Sparks So Much Confusion

Picture this: you and your spouse buy a house. You want to write about it: “my wife and I’s house.” To your ear it may sound fine. But grammar rules say otherwise. The confusion mostly comes from mixing pronouns (like “I”) with possessive forms. Many speakers assume that adding ’s works with any noun or pronoun- but that’s not true. By exploring how possessive forms and pronouns function, you’ll understand why “and I’s” falls short, what we should say instead, and how to avoid that awkward trap in your writing and speech.

Breaking Down the Phrase “and I’s”

When you write something like “my wife and I’s car”, you’re trying to show that you together own the car. But the phrase “and I’s” fails because:

• “I” is a pronoun that already has its own possessive form (“my” or “mine”).
• Attaching ’s to “I” (“I’s”) attempts to treat “I” like a noun, which standard grammar doesn’t support.
• The construction forces a clash between the pronoun system and the possessive-noun system.

Let’s compare:

• Standard: my wife’s and my car
• Non-standard: my wife and I’s car

In the first, each owner is shown correctly: “wife’s” (her possession) and “my” (mine). In the second, “I’s” tries to convert “I” into a noun with ’s, which breaks the rule that pronouns don’t take apostrophe-s for possession. In short, “and I’s” looks like a joint possessive, but it misuses pronoun rules.

Understanding Possessive Forms of Pronouns

Knowing how pronouns show possession will make the “and I’s” problem clearer. Here’s a breakdown of the key forms in English:

Possessive Determiners vs. Possessive Pronouns

Type	Usage	Examples
Possessive determiner (also “possessive adjective”)	Comes before a noun to show ownership	my car, her book, our house
Possessive pronoun	Replaces a noun phrase, stands alone	mine, hers, ours

Table of Pronoun Possessives

Subject pronoun	Possessive determiner	Possessive pronoun
I	my	mine
you	your	yours
he	his	his
she	her	hers
it	its	(rarely used as “its”)
we	our	ours
they	their	theirs

Important rule: Personal pronouns don’t normally use apostrophe-s to show possession. For example, you don’t say “your’s”, “her’s”, “our’s”. That means saying “I’s” to show “mine with me included” clashes with the rule.

Why “My Wife and I’s Car” Is Grammatically Incorrect

Let’s dissect a typical sentence: “my wife and I’s car.”

• “My wife and I” is a compound subject or ownership group.
• Trying to add ’s to the entire phrase (“and I’s car”) treats “I” as though it can accept an apostrophe-s.
• But “I” already uses “my” or “mine” to show possession- so “I’s” is both redundant and ungrammatical.
• Standard grammar says for compound owners, you either:
  • attach to the last noun only if they share the ownership, and you treat it as a singular joint possession, or
  • Attach to each owner if they each individually own something.

In our example, “my wife and I” own the car together. The correct form: “my wife’s and my car”. That way, each owner is shown properly: wife’s + my. If you wrote “my wife and my car”, that would shift ownership awkwardly. If you wrote “our car”, that’s even smoother.

The Correct Way to Express Joint Ownership

When two or more people own something together, you’ve got several options for expressing it clearly. Here’s how you can choose:

One Possessive Form (Shared Ownership)

If the ownership is joint (they own it together):

• Use the apostrophe-s on the final noun in the list.
  • Example: John and Mary’s house.
• Or for pronouns plus nouns: My wife’s and my car.

Separate Possessive Forms (Individual Ownership)

If each owns an item individually:

• Give each owner the apostrophe-s: John’s and Mary’s cars.
• If one of the owners is a pronoun: John’s and my cars.

Use “our” When It Fits

Often, the easiest and cleanest solution is using “our” for shared ownership.

• “Our car” instead of “my wife and my car.”
• It reduces complexity and avoids awkward constructions.

Summary Table

Ownership type	Correct expression	Explanation
Joint (shared)	John and Mary’s house	One ’s for both, since they share it
Compound with a pronoun	My wife’s and my car	Each owner is shown correctly
Joint, simpler phrasing	Our car	Avoids detailed grammar when simple works
Individual, separate	John’s and Mary’s cars	Each has its own item, each shown with ’s

Alternatives to “and I’s” That Sound Natural and Correct

Instead of falling into the trap of “and I’s”, you can use these rephrasings that are both correct and natural:

• “Our car” – short, smooth, covers joint ownership nicely.
• “The car that my wife and I own” – slightly more formal but clear.
• “My wife’s and my car” – grammatically precise, especially in formal writing.
• “The photo of my wife and me” – for situations where you’re in a photo together.

Tip: If a phrase starts to feel clunky, restructure it. Clarity often trumps a forced possessive.

Common Confusions: “He and I’s,” “She and I’s,” and Other Variants

The confusion isn’t just with “and I’s” + noun- it pops up with other pronouns too: “he and I’s”, “she and I’s”, even “they and I’s”. All of these follow the same flawed logic.

Why mixing third person + first person complicates things

• “He” or “she” or “they” have their own possessive determiners (“his”, “her”, “their”).
• “I” has “my” or “mine”.
• When you combine them (e.g., “he and I”), you’re better off using separate possessives: “his and my idea” rather than “he and I’s idea.”
• Mixing person forms (first person “I” and third person “he/she/they”) forces the sentence into awkward territory.

Example corrections

• ❌ “He and I’s plan turned out great.”
• ✅ “His and my plan turned out great.”
• ✅ “The plan that he and I made turned out great.”

When in doubt: convert to an “of” phrase or use separate possessives. It’s clearer.

How to Use Possessives Correctly with Compound Nouns and Pronouns

Here’s a step-by-step approach to handling joint possession with pronouns and nouns.

Step 1: Identify ownership type

• Are the people sharing one item? → joint ownership.
• Are they each owning separate items? → individual ownership.

Step 2: Decide how to express it

• Shared: Use “our” or attach ’s to the final noun only.
• Separate: Attach ’s (or use “my”, “our”, etc.) to each owner.

Step 3: Watch the pronouns

• Pronouns like “I” doesn’t take ’s for possession (you say “my”, “mine”).
• For “we/they” use “our/their”.

Step 4: Rewrite if it sounds awkward

If you find yourself writing “and I’s”, chances are a clearer rephrase exists.

Quick Reference Table

Incorrect	Correct
My brother and I’s dog	my brother’s and my dog
John and I’s project	John’s and my project / our project
her and I’s ideas	her and my ideas / her ideas and mine
My friend and I’s house	my friend’s and my house / our house

Case Study

Scenario: Sarah and Marcus own a bakery together.

• Incorrect: “Sarah and I’s bakery is on Main Street.”
• Correct: “Sarah’s and my bakery is on Main Street.”
• Better: “Our bakery is on Main Street.”

By choosing the simplest, clear phrasing, you stay grammatically correct and easy to read.

Real-Life Examples of Correct Possessive Use

Let’s look at how reputable sources handle similar constructs:

“The house seemed asleep yet, as I have said, it had a life of its own.” Here, “its” is used correctly (no apostrophe).

“You may read or hear mines, I’s … as examples of possessive pronouns … but you should not embrace these common mistakes in formal or professional settings.” This quote explicitly calls out “I’s” as incorrect in formal writing.

From the quotes above, we learn:

• The possessive pronouns mine, yours, his, hers, ours,and  theirs don’t take apostrophes.
• Using apostrophe + s with “I” (i.e., “I’s”) is flagged as incorrect in formal writing.

This confirms our guidance: “and I’s” is not standard English, especially in formal or written contexts.

Quick Grammar Tips to Avoid the “and I’s” Mistake

Here’s a practical checklist to keep handy:

• ✅ Don’t add ’s to “I” to show possession; use “my” or “mine”.
• ✅ For shared ownership, consider “our” or attach ’s to the last noun in a list.
• ✅ If in doubt, rewrite the sentence into an “of” structure (e.g., the car of my wife and me).
• ✅ Separate possession clearly when each owner has their own item.
• ✅ Read your sentence out loud. If it sounds awkward, it probably is.

Mini Quiz

Which of these is correct?

• A) my sister’s and my tickets
• B) My sister and I’s tickets Answer: A) is correct.

Use these tips as your go-to guardrails when you’re writing or editing.

Common Myths About Possessive Grammar

Myth #1: “It’s just informal speech –  nobody cares if I say ‘and I’s’.” Reality: While people might say it, most style guides and formal writing treat it as incorrect. It can undermine credibility in professional writing.

Myth #2: “Pronouns follow the same pattern as nouns, so ‘I’s’ should work.” Reality: Pronouns have their own rules. As we’ve seen, “my/mine” applies to “I”, not “I’s”.

Myth #3: “Using ‘and I’s’ makes me sound more inclusive (I and you).” Reality: It actually makes the sentence burdened and unclear. Better: “our” or “my and your…” depending on context.

Recognizing these myths helps you steer clear of pitfalls and write with confidence.

Final Takeaway: How to Speak and Write Possessives Confidently

Let’s sum it up:

• Don’t use “and I’s” for possessive constructions.
• Use the pronoun system properly: “my/mine” for “I”; “your/yours” for “you”; etc.
• For joint ownership, choose our or attach ’s to the final noun in a compound list.
• If you mix pronouns and nouns, make sure each owner is shown correctly or restructure the sentence.
• When your sentence feels off, simplify it. “Our car” beats “my wife’s and my car” in everyday speech.

By following these guidelines, you’ll express joint ownership clearly, elegantly, and grammatically. Your writing will sound natural- not forced. And you’ll avoid one of the more common stumbling blocks in English grammar.

Conclusion

The phrase “and I’s” has confused English learners and native speakers alike for decades. It sounds natural because we often mimic speech patterns rather than grammatical rules. Yet, as we’ve seen, “and I’s” is never grammatically correct. The problem lies in trying to apply noun rules (adding ’s) to a pronoun that already has its own possessive forms- “my” and “mine.”

When you understand how possessive pronouns and compound nouns work together, clarity comes easily. If two or more people share ownership, you can express that using clean, simple structures like “our” or “my wife’s and my car.” Both follow English grammar standards while keeping your sentence natural. Remember: the goal of good writing isn’t to sound fancy- it’s to be clear, accurate, and human.

The temptation to write “my friend and I’s house” is understandable, especially in conversation. But when writing professionally, studying, or posting online, it’s worth polishing your grammar to project confidence and credibility. Correct possessive forms show that you have command of the language and care about precision.

Think of grammar as a helpful guide, not a rigid rulebook. Language evolves, and spoken patterns will always be looser. Still, understanding these core rules gives you flexibility- you can adapt tone and style without slipping into errors.

So next time you hesitate before typing “and I’s,” remember: the better choice always exists. Choose “our,” “my and your,” or “my friend’s and my.” They may look slightly longer, but they sound polished and professional. Mastering this detail will help your writing stand out for the right reasons. Clear, correct, and confident- that’s how you make your grammar work for you.

FAQs

Why is “and I’s” grammatically incorrect?

Because “I” is a pronoun that already uses “my” or “mine” for possession. Adding an apostrophe + s (“I’s”) tries to turn a pronoun into a noun, which violates English grammar structure. Instead of “my friend and I’s car,” say “my friend’s and my car” or simply “our car.” This respects both grammar and readability.

Is it ever acceptable to use “and I’s” in informal speech?

Technically, no. You might hear it in casual conversations because people tend to shorten or simplify sentences when speaking. However, even in informal contexts, “and I’s” isn’t grammatically valid. In professional or academic writing, you should avoid it altogether. A better, universally correct option is “our” or “my and your,” depending on the context.

What is the easiest way to correct a sentence using “and I’s”?

Replace the incorrect phrase with either a shared possessive (“our”) or a rewritten structure. For instance, instead of “my wife and I’s vacation,” write “our vacation” or “the vacation my wife and I took.” Simplifying the structure avoids confusion and improves sentence flow without changing meaning or tone.

How should I show joint ownership between a noun and a pronoun?

Use possessive forms for each owner: “my friend’s and my project” or “Sarah’s and my apartment.” Each owner must have a possessive marker. Avoid adding ’s to pronouns like “I,” “you,” or “we.” If it feels awkward, rephrase the sentence: “the apartment that Sarah and I share” is equally correct and smoother to read.

What’s the best long-term strategy to avoid these errors?

Familiarize yourself with possessive pronoun rules and practice rewriting examples. Read professional writing or grammar resources like Grammarly and Cambridge Dictionary. When in doubt, substitute “our” or use an “of” phrase- “the idea of my friend and me.” With regular awareness, correct grammar becomes second nature, and awkward phrases like “and I’s” disappear from your writing forever.