Possessive nouns
What are possessive nouns?
Possessive nouns are nouns that show ownership or a relationship between two things. In essence, they answer the question “Whose?”
How are they formed?
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Singular Nouns: Add an apostrophe (’) and the letter “s”
Example: The dog’s collar
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Plural Nouns ending in “s”: Add only an apostrophe (’)
Example: The girls’ toys
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Plural Nouns not ending in “s”: Add an apostrophe (’) and the letter “s”
Example: The children’s books
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Proper Nouns (names): Follow the same rules as above
Singular Example: Chris’s car Plural Example: The Smiths’ house
Types and Examples
1. Singular Possessive Nouns:
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The cat’s paw prints were all over the table.
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My friend’s birthday party is next week.
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The teacher’s desk is always organized.
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The tree’s leaves turned golden in the fall.
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The city’s skyline is breathtaking at night.
2. Plural Possessive Nouns (ending in “s”):
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The dogs’ tails wagged excitedly.
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The students’ exams were graded quickly.
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The horses’ hooves pounded the ground.
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The employees’ salaries were increased.
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The countries’ flags flew high.
3. Plural Possessive Nouns (not ending in “s”):
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The children’s laughter filled the air.
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The men’s restroom is out of order.
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The women’s voices echoed in the hall.
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The oxen’s strength was impressive.
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The geese’s migration is a sight to behold.
4. Singular Proper Noun Possessives:
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James’s backpack was left in the classroom.
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Emily’s painting won the art contest.
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Mexico’s cuisine is diverse and flavorful.
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Paris’s Eiffel Tower is an iconic landmark.
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Michael’s new car is a sleek sports model.
5. Plural Proper Noun Possessives:
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The Johnsons’ house is at the end of the street.
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The Smiths’ dog is always getting into trouble.
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The Kennedys’ legacy is still influential.
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The Kardashians’ reality show is wildly popular.
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The Williamses’ vacation home is in the mountains.