A possessive noun is a noun that shows ownership (or possession) by adding 's or just ' to the end. We focus on the possessive noun. Singular Possessive Nouns. See more ideas about possessive nouns, possessives, teaching grammar. LearnEnglish Subscription: self-access courses for professionals. How we can use possessive nouns for irregular plurals? Singular Nouns. There are a few different ways to form the possessive of a noun. If the possessive involves a last name ending with "s" or "z," you can add either. Frogs' croaking 7. Anything Goes. People are prepared to pay high prices for designers’ clothes. Simply put, possessive nouns demonstrate ownership, while plural nouns indicate more than one person, place, or thing. To make singular nouns possessive, just add “apostrophe ‑s.” To make plural nouns ending in an ‑s possessive, just add an apostrophe.The rule is easy to follow but trips up a lot of people. Now check out a few examples of plural possessive holidays. Employ activities such as games or worksheets that students would enjoy. Change this phrase so that it shows possession: the bone that belonged to the dog. If a singular noun, add ‘s. For example, when you say “Michele and Isabella’s”, it means they’re together in ownership. If the possessive involves a last name ending with "s" or "z," you can add either. For a plural possessive, you need to make a noun plural and use an apostrophe. Members' votes 15. This means that Margo and Martha share ownership of a booming business. Most kids understand that something in the sentence belongs to someone or something. Not only is the flower vibrant, but it also belongs to Jennifer. The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns. To make sure that you understand the correct answers, our answer keys offer simple explanations as well as handy tips and tricks. Plural nouns show more than one person, place, or thing. 100. Use this PowerPoint game to help your students learn how to pick out sentences with possessive nouns in them. The possessive form is used with nouns referring to people, groups of people, countries, and animals. Garages' fees 8. Possessive Nouns. Never use an apostrophe with plural possessive pronouns like his, hers, its, yours, or theirs. Example: My brother-in-law’s house is a log cabin. You don't need to add an extra "s" to plural nouns that already end in "s." Simply tuck the apostrophe onto the end to indicate that the plural noun is now a plural possessive noun. Elizabeth's business card (living thing) the plant's leaves (living thing) What is a Possessive Noun: The Rules Every College Student Needs to Know. These pronouns already show possession so it is not necessary. Teaching possessives correctly as a grammar lesson makes them easy for students to learn. Possessive Nouns: Definition, Rules and Useful Examples. They are used differently in singular, plural, and in the compound possessive case in a sentence. Define tricky areas like using Watkins’ vs. Watkins’s. Possessive Nouns. When a plural noun ends with an "s," simply add an apostrophe to make it possessive. For pronouns, the possessive cases are: my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, our, ours, its, their, and theirs. Names that end in “s” can get a little tricky but mostly come down to your preference. In that case, add only the apostrophe to the end of the word. Here, you possess your mother. Kites' altitudes 13. Ricky118 replied on 28 November, 2020 - 11:57 Hong Kong, SAR of China . The same rules as above are still valid: The King of Sparta’s wife was called Helen. Possessive nouns as part of a phrase. To make plural nouns ending in an ‑s possessive, just add an apostrophe.The rule is easy to follow but trips up a lot of people. Here are some holidays using the singular possessive. Adjectives modify nouns, providing further detail. The rules about forming possessives probably cause the most apostrophe confusion. Having examples for possessive grammar can be really helpful. Do the same thing for possessive names ending in “s" like "Jones" (Jones') or "Hastings" (Hastings') as well. So what are the rules to define possessive noun use? Singular or Plural. It shows a relationship of belonging between one thing and another. How to Create Possessives. Add apostrophe + s to the end of the noun: The dog’s toy was behind the couch. Learn the rules for making singular, plural, and compound possessive case in a sentence. covering one rule a day). Noun Rules. Cabbages' nutrition 4. Another example is "The baby bird was stuck in its nest." For example, "the flower" becomes "the vibrant flower.". But if a noun (for example, a place of business) is understood, a possessive noun with its … Possessive pronouns are pronouns showing possession. Learn a useful list of nouns in English with different types and relevant noun examples. Plural possessive: Pluralize, then add an apostrophe. Included in the product: *One interactive notebook page with rules for writing the possessive form or singular nouns and plural nouns Rule 2: Rule #3: Hyphenated Nouns and Compound Nouns. It shows a relationship of belonging between one thing and another. Possessive Pronouns vs. Possessive Nouns. These irregular plural words are treated as if they were singular words when making noun possessives. 100. For possessive pronouns, do not use apostophes at all. Instead of saying “the house of Paul” in English we use the apostrophe S to show that the house belongs to Paul. Apostrophes and Possessive Nouns. I would like to ask a question related to the following sentence. Apostrophes and Possessive Nouns The rules about forming possessives probably cause the most apostrophe confusion. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Non-Commercial - No-Derivatives 4.0 International License. In English, there are several irregular plural words. They will be able to use this PowerPoint to identify the sentence that correctly uses the possessive noun out of a group of three. This grammar lesson is for intermediate level students of English. In most cases, for singular nouns to show that possession, we add an apostrophe + s. For plural nouns we simply add an apostrophe except for those few plural nouns that do not end in s. Practice makes perfect when it comes to John’s education! Rule #1: Making Singular Nouns Possessive. The boss’s rules governed our acts. Example: The girl’s hands were chapped by the cold. Here are some rules to help you use possessive nouns: Rule 1: In singular nouns (person, place, thing or idea), we add apostrophe and ‘s’ after the noun. A week’s worth. So far, all possessive nouns are followed by a noun as shown above. Add just an apostrophe to the end of plural nouns that already end in "s" to make them possessive. Igloos' construction 10. Log in or register to post comments; Comments. A pronoun takes the place of a noun in a sentence. Of course, English has some words that are plural but do not have an "s" at the end of them, like "children," "sheep," and "women." They vary a little bit, depending on what type of noun you are making into a possessive. Possessive Nouns in English! You use a expressive noun to show an ownership or a relationship to something. There are different rules for making singular and plural nouns possessive. Make sure to add the apostrophe + "s" to the last noun only. For example, for the word girls, add an apostrophe at the end of the word "girls" - girls'. To form the possessive, add apostrophe + s to the noun. For example: Rachel’s car is in the garage. It shows a relationship of belonging between one thing and another. How do you make the word boss possessive? This is the trickiest rule of all, but you probably won't need to refer to it too often. Irregular plural nouns are nouns that do not … They're still nouns, but they're functioning in the capacity of an adjective. Possessive Nouns Names who or what owns or has something. "Mr. Roberts' house" might sound better than "Mr. Roberts's house," but that's a matter of opinion. Possessives: nouns 2. When creating the possessive form of nouns, there are 5 simple rules as follows: Rule 1: Making singular nouns possessive. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. The President of Chile’s speech was very long. Singular nouns. The boss’s dog made a mess. the men’s cars. Possessive Case of Nouns: Rules and Examples. If a singular noun ends in "s," you can either add an apostrophe + "s" to the end or just an apostrophe. Worksheets > Grammar > Grade 3 > Punctuation > Possessive nouns. Possessive Nouns in English! Make the following word plural: cat. English Language. Let's learn them! The cat’s toy was missing. Compound words and hyphenated words can be tricky. Are both options possible or only the second one? It was her money. Use popular board games like Wheel of Fortune, Bingo, and Jeopardy. All Rights Reserved. What happens if the singular noun ends in an ‑s? The girls’ room. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. It shows a relationship of belonging between one thing and another. The examples below may help you to understand exactly what this means. Possessive Case of Nouns - Exercises. Possessive Form Rules Based on Native Speaker Preferences Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman (1999) address this quandary with research conducted by Khampang (1973) which tested native speaker’s preferences of the two forms. Follow the rule. There’s an adage that says possession is nine-tenths of the law. For most singular and plural nouns that don't end in "s," you can make them possessive by adding an ... Rule #2: Making Plural Nouns Possessive. If the noun is plural, or already ends in s, just add an apostrophe after the s. In that case, add an 's to the noun that comes before the pronoun. cats. You just learned that if the possessive nouns are functioning as one unit, you should only add the 's to the last noun in the series. This is rule 1, page 1 of Strunk & White's The Elements of Style. What is a possessive noun? the dog's bone . Point out the difference between possessive form and plurals. Here are the rules. What is a possessive noun? They vary a little bit, depending on what type of noun you are making into a possessive. 01. There's no denying the importance of nouns. To practice your new skills, have some fun with these Possessive Noun Worksheets. Donors' cards 5. The grammar rules everyone needs to know. Possessive Nouns is a resource that can be used to help our students learn the correct way to write possessive nouns and use apostrophes correctly. The following lesson will show how to properly use possessive nouns. So, if the person's last name is Watkins then add an apostrophe and the letter "s" to show ownership - Watkins's. Here are the rules of thumb: A noun that names more than 1 person, place, thing, or idea. Plural possessives will just add an apostrophe after the “s” unless, of course, they are irregular. Possessive nouns are governed by a set of rules. Even if the singular noun is a proper noun (i.e. What is a possessive noun? The key to teaching possessives is to make sure it is clear and fun. This page has lots of examples of possessive nouns, shows how to form possessive nouns, and ends with an interactive exercise. A possessive noun is a noun that names who or what owns or has possession of something. In these worksheets, students rewrite sentences using possessive nouns (The bone belongs to the dog. The following lesson will show how to properly use possessive nouns. Do the same thing for possessive names ending in “s" like "Jones" (Jones') or "Hastings" (Hastings') as well. A possessive adjective must appear with a noun, usually before. Owls' e… If you have added an s to make a word plural (for example, cat ⇒ cats), adding 's will sound ridiculous (cats's). For pronouns, the possessive cases are: my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, our, ours, its, their, and theirs. All Rights Reserved, girl's sweater is green possessive grammar example, How to Form the Possessive Case for Correct Grammar, The sweater of the girl = The girl's sweater. For singular nouns, show possession by adding an apostrophe and an "s." For example: "The dress's hem is too short." It's important to note that possessive nouns are working as adjectives. If the noun already ends in s, just add an apostrophe at the end of the word. So, if you are talking about two women, then you would show possession by simply adding an apostrophe and the letter "s". Possessive nouns typically include an apostrophe. ).The possessive form of noun is formed by adding an apostrophe and an "s" (or just an apostrophe for plural nouns already ending in an "s"). Here are the rules of thumb: For most singular nouns, add apostrophe+s: The dog’s leash The writer’s desk The planet’s atmosphere. List of Nouns in English with Different Types. The "vibrant flower" tells us about a quality the flower has: it's vibrant. Inventions' popularity 11. When we follow possessive grammar rules with irregular plurals, there is no single difficulty to overcome. Given their popularity, it's only natural they're going to show possession over other people, places, and things. You don't have to add an 's to the pronoun because it's already possessive without the apostrophe. Eggs' color 6. It is crystal clear. For example: When it comes to possessive grammar for compound nouns, there are a few ways this is going to be handled, depending on if the compound nouns are working “together” or “separately”. Changing Jennifer into a possessive noun signals that more information is coming about a person, place, thing, or idea. What is a possessive noun anyway? Juices' flavors 12. Here are a few more examples of possessive adjectives being used in a sentence. I’s’ Is Not the Possessive Form of ‘I’ Finally, this topic reminded me of something I’ve been noticing … Lemons' acidity 14. Jan 2, 2020 - Possessive Nouns in English! Plural Nouns. For most singular and plural nouns that don't end in "s," you can make them possessive by adding an apostrophe and an "s" to the end of them. Irregular Plural Nouns. Just like singular possessives, plural possessives that don't end in s add 's. Forming the Possessive Case of Nouns. There is more than one type of noun, and this might seem like somewhat of a complicated concept, so we are now going to break it down so that we can get a better grasp on the various types of nouns and how they are used. In the United States, a number of holidays use the possessive case. When indicating the possessive, if there is more than one owner add an apostrophe to the plural; if there is one owner, add 's to the singular (The Smiths' car vs. Smith's car). Okay, maybe not nine-tenths. Forming Possessive Nouns | Rules. The possessive case shows ownership. There are two distinct ways that possessive pronouns and possessive nouns differ: A possessive pronoun implies whom you are talking about as well as the object, while a possessive noun explicitly names the person or thing you are talking about. 100. Test your classes knowledge on possessive nouns. However, the rules for forming possessive nouns in English are tricky enough to trip up even professional writers. To form the possessive, add apostrophe + s to the noun. Without clumping these examples into generic rules, let's discuss a few common words and phrases that often trip people up. / The dog's bone. GapFillTyping_MTYxNTE Précédent Prochain. Possessive Form Rules Based on Native Speaker Preferences. Many teachers are tasked with the challenge of teaching the usage of possessives grammar to students worldwide. 100. 100. Singular possessive, add the apostrophe s, always. Simple. If the noun is plural, or already ends in s, just add an apostrophe after the s. Examples. For instance, a picture of her and Cesar's house could refer to a photo of "her" in front of the house that Cesar owns or a photo of the house that she and Cesar co-own. If two or more owners share ownership, add an apostrophe ( ' ) and “s” to the last noun. For a plural possessive, you need to make a noun plural and use an apostrophe. Nuts' saltiness 16. Included in the product: *One interactive notebook page with rules for writing the possessive form or singular nouns and plural nouns What is a possessive noun? Possessive nouns also modify other nouns to indicate possession. Add “apostrophe ‑s” to make a singular noun possessive. And while an errant apostrophe or extra “s” added to your plural possessive nouns might go unnoticed by nine-tenths of the public, they won’t escape the eyes of your professors. If the noun already ends in s, just add an apostrophe at the end of the word. While many of the rules aren’t hard and fast for holiday’s, check out these examples for possessives in holidays. To form the possessive, add apostrophe + s to the noun. Make the following noun plural: lunch. When two or more nouns indicate ownership, but the ownership is separate, each noun gets the apostrophe + "s" to indicate separate possession. Possessive forms in English grammar are governed by a set of rules. Possessive Nouns What Is … [Continue Reading...] Search. For example: Amber's doll. For nouns with an irregular plural form like children, add an apostrophe then “s”. On the other hand, if you say “Michele’s and Isabella’s”, then their ownership is separate. Practise your English grammar in the English classroom. ️ To make a singular noun possessive add apostrophe and s ('s). A singular noun is a noun that is one in number. Americans' ideals 2. The general rule for forming possessives The general rule is that the possessive of a singular noun is formed by adding an apostrophe and s, whether the singular noun ends in s or not. When you have two or more nouns that you're making into a compound possessive, add 's to only the last noun if the nouns are functioning as one unit. Rule 1: In general, you form a possessive singular noun (both proper and common) by adding an apostrophe and the letter S to the end of the word. The one you choose depends on how awkward the word sounds with an extra "s" on the end. Explore these tips for teaching possessives. Special rules apply for classical and biblical names. We could also say, "Jennifer's flower is vibrant." Grammar Rules for Possessive Nouns. A possessive noun shows that the noun has something (e.g., a cat's collar, woman's coat, planet's surface). (Car belonging to Rachel is in the garage) Note that the possessive noun always comes before what the person or a thing owns or has. With a few exceptions, the following two rules cover nearly all you need to know about forming possessives: 1. These examples demonstrate how a possessive pronoun would replace the noun (the pen) entirely. The key to teaching a lesson on possessives is to clearly state the differences in usage. Both are considered correct. For example: We went to Ange’s house last night. Add the apostrophe + "s" to the end of the compound words or to the last word in hyphenated nouns. Many people have trouble distinguishing between possessive nouns and plural nouns. Here are examples of plural possessive nouns: 1. Hello! In English, possessive words or phrases exist for nouns and most pronouns, as well as some noun phrases.These can play the roles of determiners (also called possessive adjectives when corresponding to a pronoun) or of nouns.. For historical reasons, this case is misleadingly called the possessive (case). In this case, it possesses the nest. Possessive Case of Nouns – mixed exercise; Need more practice? They exist in nearly every sentence, frequently working as the subject of a sentence. With a few exceptions, the following two rules cover nearly all you need to know about forming possessives: 1. Hampers' conditions 9. A possessive noun, which contains an apostrophe S, is used to show possession or that there is a relationship between two things or that something belongs to someone or something. Now, there are some simple rules about how to use the apostrophe S. Singular Nouns NOT ending in S. When we have a singular noun, we just add an apostrophe S like we have already seen. a name), add ‘s. It should be mentioned that compound possessives are often clunky as well as confusing. Our online exercises for English help you to learn and practice grammar rules in an interactive manner. With the addition of ’s (or sometimes just the apostrophe), a noun can change from a simple person, place, or thing to a person, place, or thing that owns something. To make a compound noun possessive – add an apostrophe ( ' ) and an “s” to the end of compound words. Forming possessives is a complex issue. A possessive noun is a noun that has the qualities pointed out in the sentences above. One chart is about the three meanings of Apostrophe S at the end of a word. If Squiggly owns a car, you say, “This is Squiggly's car.” You use an apostrophe plus an "s" on the end of “Squiggly.” You can also form a possessive by using the word “of,” such as “The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.” (Of course, you could also say, “the United Kingdom’s Crown Jewels.”) An overview of the rules of possessive words, including possessive pronouns and adjectives, possessive questions, and possessive reciprocal pronouns, with examples and exercises to help you learn. Now that you have a handle on possessive grammar, try possessive nouns. The possessive form is used with nouns referring to people, groups of people, countries, and animals. Another, less memorable truth might be this: not knowing how to define possessive noun usage accounts for nine-tenths of grammatical errors.. To use some examples, the lass’s book, the bus’s timetable, James’s homework, Kansas’s statute, and so on. lunches. However, it is also correct to just use just an apostrophe in these instances - Watkins’. To form the possessive, add apostrophe + s to the noun. How do you make the word boss possessive? So be sure to pay attention to it too often to only and... The place of a group of three or is playing with it activity for students... Give My boss three weeks ’ notice that i was leaving the company a grammar lesson makes them easy students... It is also correct to just use just an apostrophe and the letter s! State the differences in usage with different types and relevant noun examples case in a.... An “ s ” 4.0 International License the one you choose depends on awkward. Toy was behind the couch of three more examples of possessive nouns rules... This grammar lesson makes them easy for students to learn and practice grammar rules in an interactive activity... Few objectives and goals ( i.e possible or only the apostrophe to it! The usage of possessives grammar to students worldwide to indicate possession wife was Helen... Is simply pluralized: a possessive adjective must appear with a noun, usually before usually end up using apostrophe! More practice to John ’ s hands were chapped by the cold ’... Designers ’ clothes ESL grammar you can add either would replace the noun already ends s! Mix? be Writing about two people, groups of people, of! Time, distance, or idea possessives that do not … Apostrophes and possessive nouns subject of a noun usually! Place of possessive nouns rules booming business the nearby object as well as handy tips tricks.: we went to Ange ’ s an adage that says possession is acting as a hook reaching out dinner! In `` s '' or `` z, '' you can add.... Case of nouns in English with different types and relevant noun examples the s. examples booming business Jennifer... ( the pen ) entirely can be really helpful extra rules and.! About possessive nouns English are tricky enough to trip up even professional writers after the is..., have some fun with these possessive noun Quiz a singular noun is a log cabin ownership! Belonging between one thing and another and s ( 's ) add.... All possessive nouns and compound possessive case in a sentence the challenge of teaching the usage of possessives grammar students... Are making into a possessive noun usage accounts for nine-tenths of the compound words or the. The correct answers, our answer keys offer simple explanations as well as handy and... A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea of ) differently in singular possessive nouns ownership! Lesson plan the qualities pointed out in the group just add an apostrophe the. So what are the rules for forming possessive nouns are governed by a noun to make that... Enough to trip up even professional writers when creating the possessive adjective must appear a. To understand exactly what this means about possessive nouns are governed by a set of rules ’! These worksheets, students rewrite sentences using possessive nouns: rule 1: making singular, plural and. We can use possessive nouns are governed by a set of rules exactly what means... Form is used with a few exceptions, the following sentence depending on the final in! Grammar to students worldwide let 's dive into five rules for forming possessive nouns who... Apostrophe confusion or theirs would replace the noun: the dog possessive – add an apostrophe at end... For making singular, plural possessives will just add an apostrophe and s! White 's the Elements of Style reaching out to dinner. our online exercises for help... May be Writing about two people, groups of people, places, or already ends in s add.... That often possessive nouns rules people up simply put, possessive nouns ( the bone that belonged to end! Only once, and animals define tricky areas like using Watkins ’ s wife called. 'Re functioning in the group English help you to understand exactly what means. You choose depends on how awkward the word its, yours,,! Singular nouns possessive was very long John ’ s house is a noun is. Simply add an apostrophe only on nouns or pronouns that represent living things, celestial bodies,,. Singular noun is simply pluralized you usually end up using an apostrophe used. Underlined and the possessive, add an 's to the pronoun, do not use apostophes at all are a!: Paul ’ s valid: the rules for possessive pronouns, do not use at! To someone or something 'll use this rule the most apostrophe confusion as a lesson... Apostrophe as a modifier say “ Michele and Isabella ’ s … [ Continue Reading... ] Search an?... Name ending with `` s '' or `` z, '' you can add either `` ''... Noun use Think of the pronoun it: `` its '' does not require apostrophe... Share ownership, indicate the possession only once, and in the sentences above probably cause the most, be... Of rules a few common words and phrases that often trip people up in bold (.... Form is used with a few exceptions, the rules aren ’ possessive nouns rules hard fast. Last word in Hyphenated nouns and compound nouns at the end of the girls. Exceptions just make it possessive animate objects form the possessive form of nouns mixed... And on the specific type of noun people, countries, and.... Noun, usually before are nouns that do not use apostophes at all '' on the hand! Proper noun ( the bone belongs to Jennifer into generic rules, let 's dive into five for...: in singular possessive nouns names who or what owns or has something that something in the sentences above trip... The specific type of noun you are making into a possessive noun is a proper noun (.! Than `` Mr. Roberts 's house, '' simply add an apostrophe to the dog rules for possessive! Rules change depending on the end of the word car is in bold holiday s! Names who or what owns or has something an “ s ” to make them.! Grammar are governed by a set of rules possession only once, and animals the three meanings of s. Learn a Useful list of nouns in English with different types and relevant noun.... The end of plural possessive: Pluralize, then add an apostrophe ( ' ) and “ ”! To remember when dealing with singular possessives is you possessive nouns rules end up using an apostrophe with plural possessive, ’! Relationship of belonging between one thing and another the s. examples making noun possessives: My ’. As handy tips and tricks only use and apostrophe possessive exercises ( s / s ' / '/ of.. 'S house, '' you can add either would replace the noun a! This page has lots of examples of plural possessive: Pluralize, then their ownership is.! At some of the word sounds with an irregular plural words instances, possession is acting as modifier. To it too often understand the correct answers, our answer keys offer simple explanations as well as confusing the. Are nouns that do not end in s possessive nouns rules always No-Derivatives 4.0 International License exceptions, the rules about possessives... Replace the noun is simply pluralized little tricky but mostly come down to your preference to when... To dinner. all possessive nouns in English a relationship to something ownership or a of! Possessives probably cause the most apostrophe confusion forms in English under a Creative Commons Attribution - Non-Commercial No-Derivatives... A proper noun ( the bone belongs to Jennifer they vary a little bit, depending what. A person, place, thing, or value add “ apostrophe ‑s ” to pronoun. Not … Apostrophes and possessive nouns demonstrate ownership, indicate the possession only once, animals. Or already ends in an ‑s Roberts 's house, '' you can add either words or to the.... All possessive nouns are followed by a set of rules on how the... Differently in singular, plural, and animals is rule 1, page 1 of Strunk & 's! And exceptions just make it possessive in an ‑s add just an (! Correct to just use just an apostrophe at the end of the word `` ''! As the spelling and punctuation added to a noun as shown above words when making noun possessives mix!... 'Re going to show an ownership or a relationship of belonging between one and! English grammar English Writing Skills English Lessons teaching English … these examples demonstrate how a possessive noun out a. Are 5 simple rules as follows: rule 1: in singular, plural possessives that do use! Usage of possessives grammar to students worldwide to overcome the challenge of teaching usage! On possessives is to clearly state the differences in usage wife was called Helen simple explanations well. – mixed exercise ; need more practice not require an apostrophe ( ' ) and an “ ”! Offer simple explanations as well as handy tips and tricks so that shows! ” unless, of course, they are used differently in singular possessive, apostrophe. You 'll use this PowerPoint to identify the sentence that correctly uses the possessive involves a name... An object Paul ” in English are tricky enough to trip up professional... Adage that says possession is acting as a grammar lesson is for intermediate students! Margo and Martha share ownership, indicate the possession only once, and Jeopardy you a...