Form the singular or plural possessive

key notes :

Understanding Possessives

  • Possessive means showing ownership or belonging.
  • For example: “John’s book” means the book that belongs to John.

Singular Possessive Form

  • Rule: Add an apostrophe and “s” ('s) to a singular noun to show possession.
  • Examples:
    • Cat → Cat’s toy (The toy of the cat)
    • Lisa → Lisa’s pencil (The pencil of Lisa)

Plural Possessive Form

  • Rule 1: For plural nouns ending in “s,” add only an apostrophe (') to show possession.
  • Examples:
    • Cats → Cats’ toys (The toys of the cats)
    • Teachers → Teachers’ lounge (The lounge of the teachers)
  • Rule 2: For plural nouns not ending in “s,” add an apostrophe and “s” ('s) to show possession.
  • Examples:
    • Children → Children’s books (The books of the children)
    • Mice → Mice’s holes (The holes of the mice)

Singular Nouns Ending in ‘s’

  • Some style guides suggest adding only an apostrophe, but many add both an apostrophe and an “s” for clarity.
  • Example:
    • “Chris’s car” or “Chris’ car” (car belonging to Chris)

Special Cases

  • If a singular noun ends in “s,” it is often acceptable to add only an apostrophe, but you should follow the style of your class or textbook.
  • Example:
    • “The boss’ office” (office belonging to the boss)

Let’s practice!✒️