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Table of Contents
How do you address that a thing already belongs to someone? Nouns sometimes indicate a connection with each other. We use possessive nouns to show this relationship.
See the fact file below for more information on Possessive Nouns or alternatively, you can download our 28-page Possessive Nouns worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Background
- Nouns that show ownership or possession are referred to as Possessive Nouns.
- The unique characteristic of possessive nouns is the apostrophe (βs) and -s at the end of the noun.
- An apostrophe also works for contraction words.
- Their difference is that the apostrophe in contraction represents a missing letter to the combined words.
EXAMPLES:
Contraction:
weβre (we are), wasnβt (was not), werenβt (were not), arenβt (are not), isnβt (is not), canβt (can not), didnβt (did not), donβt (do not), Iβve (I have)
Possessive Nouns:
Calvinβs dog, Tonyβs car, momβs bag, shopβs goods, secretaryβs duties, managerβs call, dancersβ music, technicianβs tools, Joyβs website, grandfatherβs year
Rules
- There are different ways to show ownership or possession of something or someone.
- Instead of using long phrases, the possessive nouns are simpler and shorter to use and are easier to understand.
- In the example, Jiyo is the owner of this chair; we can just say Jiyoβs chair.
- Nouns in singular, plural, hyphenated and compound, joint and separate possession and other types of nouns have various rules to follow to show their possessive form.
RULE 1
- For singular nouns:
- Add an apostrophe and βsβ at the end of the noun.
EXAMPLES:
Toriβs clothes
fatherβs job
Sarahβs vacation plan
the presidentβs goals
teacherβs mission
driverβs speed
In Sentences:
- The girlβs mother is the principal of the school
- Skyeβs dog went to the show last Saturday.
- The employeeβs ID is missing.
- The catβs food was eaten by another cat.
- What is your cousinβs name?
- Which one is your partnerβs handwriting?
- In some cases where singular nouns end in -s, either an apostrophe and βsβ can be added or simply an apostrophe.
EXAMPLES:
Charlesβs dreams Ms. Jonesβ boyfriend
Jamesβs resolution Chrisβ watch
Harrisβs books Francesβ marriage
In Sentences:
- Nicolasβ fried chicken is the best.
- The company of Jasβs father is where I work.
- Ms. Marcusβ nephew is running for honors.
- I am very grateful for Milesβs recommendation.
- Krisβs necklace is made in Italy.
- Jessβs mom is my momβs close friend.
- In some singular nouns ending in βsβ and followed by a word that starts with βsβ only an apostrophe is added.
EXAMPLES:
Travisβ song Maximusβ story
Cyrusβ son Jesusβ sacrifice
Physicsβ support Rhysβ store
In Sentences:
- Jamesβ sling bag is originally from Japan.
- Thomasβ saying is popular with teenagers.
- Lukasβ strong belief brought him to where he is now.
- Adonisβ service for the team led us to the championship.
- Tessβ skirt was torn during the performance.
- Key borrowed Jonasβ suit.
RULE 2
- For plural nouns:
- Generally, as the plural form of nouns end in s, the possessive noun is created by adding an apostrophe only.
- However, for nouns with irregular plural form, an apostrophe and βsβ is added.
EXAMPLES:
dogsβ food childrenβs play
the Smithsβ program womenβs community
the boysβ outing peopleβs votes
In Sentences:
- The birdsβ nests are all in that area.
- The artistsβ concert project was a success.
- Her teethβs color is as white as the tiles.
- The Robertsβ dream is to have a huge house.
- The princessesβ guards are happy.
- The peopleβs response to the poll is not that great.
- An apostrophe can also be used to represent how long a person has been doing a thing.
- Apart from this, it can also be used for measurements.
EXAMPLES:
- I spent four yearsβ experience in design.
- I bought a one dollarβs worth of candies.
- Six yearsβ experience in the industry and she still does not know what to do.
- Having ten yearsβ friendship with you is the best thing ever.
- Two weeksβ notice is so short for the team.
- Her six hoursβ drive is so tiring.
RULE 3
- The pronoun βitβ does not use an apostrophe and βsβ to show its possessive form.
- Simply add the letter βsβ to the word βitβ.
EXAMPLES:
- The bread is on its expiration date.
- The doctor isnβt sure of its cause.
- The dog lost its expensive toy.
- I can see its significance now.
- I donβt think the company and its vision align.
- Its purpose has changed.
RULE 4
- For hyphenated and compound words, add apostrophe and -s to the end of the last word.
EXAMPLES:
mother-in-lawβs gift
real estateβs price
teacher-in-chargeβs name
middle classβs employment rate
Attorney-in-factβs task
full-moonβs beauty
In Sentences:
- My sister-in-lawβs gown is very pretty.
- The t-shirtβs print design is not good.
- The lady-in-waitingβs room is filled with flowers.
- Her best friendβs wedding is in June.
- The father-in-lawβs suit is elegant.
- I cannot determine the swimming poolβs depth.
RULE 5
- For nouns with joint possession, just add apostrophe and -s to the last noun in the group.
EXAMPLES:
Jack and Jillβs water
Jason and Mayeβs computer
Mom and dadβs breakfast
the girl and the boyβs project
Dora, Boots, and Diegoβs adventures
Adam and Eveβs apple
In Sentences:
- Gerry and Mandyβs restaurant is doing well.
- Are you joining Kurt and Princeβs presentation?
- Lucy and Kingβs parents are currently in Hawaii.
- Jae, Lyn, and Ericβs party started late at night.
- It would be great to hear Jackson and Lennonβs collaboration.
- Grandfather and grandmotherβs vacation will last for two months.
RULE 6
- For two or more nouns that have separate possession, add an apostrophe and -s to each of the nouns.
EXAMPLES:
- Nidaβs and Claireβs cars are painted green and yellow.
- Erikβs and Susanβs movies are both nominated on the awards night.
- The girlβs and the boyβs rooms were renovated.
- A companyβs and B companyβs products are not included on the list.
- Jinaβs and Samβs plans are way too different.
- Bobbyβs and Jayβs noodles are already soggy.
RULE 7
- When a noun possesses another noun in the sentence, show ownership based on the singular and plural rules of possessive nouns.
EXAMPLES:
- Anaβs momβs cat was brought to the hospital last night.
- The authorβs cousinβs boss got reprimanded yesterday.
- Albertβs wifeβs business is continuously expanding.
- Mariaβs husbandβs team in the games lost yesterday.
- The childβs fatherβs money was stolen.
- The business ownerβs sonβs efforts were appreciated by the people.
Possessive Nouns Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Possessive Nouns across 28 in-depth pages. These areΒ ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Possessive Nouns which is a shorter way to show ownership or possession of something or someone.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Possessive Nouns Facts
- What Rules?
- Writing Possessive Nouns
- DIY Possessive Nouns
- The Best Fit
- Play By Rules
- Picture Perfect
- The Difference
- QNA
- What Should Be Here?
- Who Owns This?
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Link will appear as Possessive Nouns Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 29, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.