Possessive nouns:
A possessive noun tells us who (or what) owns or has something. Possessives answer the question "Whose?"
Here are examples that show you short and sweet how to be sure you have made your word a possessive.
Scroll on for a more in-depth explanation.
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.
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
~Possessive Nouns
Many people have trouble distinguishing between possessive nouns and plural nouns. Possessive nouns and pronouns demonstrate ownership or some similar relationship over something else. Plural nouns indicate more than one person, place or thing.
Look for the ApostrophePossessive nouns typically include an apostrophe. For example:
Think of the apostrophe mark as a hook or hand reaching out to take ownership of the object. Without the little hook or hand grabbing onto the ‘s’ or the next word, the noun is simply plural.
Possessive Nouns as Personal PronounsSome possessive nouns are actually personal pronouns. A pronoun is a word that can stand in for the noun in a sentence. Pronouns are often used to keep sentences from sounding rambling or redundant. Personal pronouns reflect ownership when used appropriately in a sentence, and do not get the apostrophe + s added to them.
Personal pronouns as possessives look like this:
Here are some basic grammar rules that cover the majority of instances where writers encounter possessive nouns.
Rule #1: Making singular nouns possessive Add an apostrophe + s to most singular nouns and to plural nouns that do not end in s.
You’ll use this rule the most, so pay particular attention to it. English has some words that are plural but do not add an ‘s’. Words like children, sheep, women and men are such words. These plural words are treated as if they were singular words when making noun possessives.
Examples:
Rule #2: Making plural nouns possessiveAdd an apostrophe only to plural nouns that already end in s.
You don’t need to add an extra ‘s’ to plural nouns that already end with the letter ‘s’. Simply tuck the apostrophe onto the end to indicate that the plural noun is now a plural possessive noun.
Examples:
A possessive noun tells us who (or what) owns or has something. Possessives answer the question "Whose?"
Here are examples that show you short and sweet how to be sure you have made your word a possessive.
Scroll on for a more in-depth explanation.
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.
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
~Possessive Nouns
Many people have trouble distinguishing between possessive nouns and plural nouns. Possessive nouns and pronouns demonstrate ownership or some similar relationship over something else. Plural nouns indicate more than one person, place or thing.
Look for the ApostrophePossessive nouns typically include an apostrophe. For example:
- Jennifer’s imagination ran wild as she pictured the accident.
- The kitten’s toy is a stuffed catnip mouse.
Think of the apostrophe mark as a hook or hand reaching out to take ownership of the object. Without the little hook or hand grabbing onto the ‘s’ or the next word, the noun is simply plural.
Possessive Nouns as Personal PronounsSome possessive nouns are actually personal pronouns. A pronoun is a word that can stand in for the noun in a sentence. Pronouns are often used to keep sentences from sounding rambling or redundant. Personal pronouns reflect ownership when used appropriately in a sentence, and do not get the apostrophe + s added to them.
Personal pronouns as possessives look like this:
- We decorated our house for the holidays with colorful lights.
- Mine is red.
Here are some basic grammar rules that cover the majority of instances where writers encounter possessive nouns.
Rule #1: Making singular nouns possessive Add an apostrophe + s to most singular nouns and to plural nouns that do not end in s.
You’ll use this rule the most, so pay particular attention to it. English has some words that are plural but do not add an ‘s’. Words like children, sheep, women and men are such words. These plural words are treated as if they were singular words when making noun possessives.
Examples:
- Singular nouns: kitten’s toy, Joe’s car, MLB’s ruling
- Plurals not ending in s: women’s dresses, sheep’s pasture, children’s toys
Rule #2: Making plural nouns possessiveAdd an apostrophe only to plural nouns that already end in s.
You don’t need to add an extra ‘s’ to plural nouns that already end with the letter ‘s’. Simply tuck the apostrophe onto the end to indicate that the plural noun is now a plural possessive noun.
Examples:
- Companies’ workers
- Horses’ stalls
- Countries’ armies
Let's try a little practice
- http://www.k12reader.com/possessive-nouns/
http://www.slideshare.net/parres/possessive-nouns-presentation-5135359
http://www.slideshare.net/guest3d6154/possessives-nouns - http://www.slideshare.net/moore1aw/possessive-nouns-3312162
http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/possessive_nouns/quiz327.html
http://www.quia.com/jg/67716.html