4.2 Singular and Plural Possessive Nouns
4.2 Singular and Plural Possessive Nouns
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Distinguish between singular and plural possessives, and use the apostrophe appropriately
We know that a word that names people, things, places, animals or even ideas is considered a noun. A noun is a word that names people, places, things, animals, or ideas. Nouns can exist in a singular form, representing one thing, or a plural form, signifying more than one1.
The term ‘possessive’ relates to ‘possession,’ meaning something you own. A possessive noun indicates that something belongs to someone and typically ends with 's or just an apostrophe.
The girls’ sandwiches
The children’s sandcastle
The dog’s frisbee
The father’s surfboard
The mother’s sunhat
Fig 2.1: Illustration of Possessive Nouns
A singular noun refers to one person, place, thing, or animal.
Examples: woman, television, elephant, classroom.
1. To show that something belongs to one person, one thing, one animal, or even one place, we add 's to singular nouns.
This helps us show ownership in sentences2.
2. Add 's to singular nouns, even when they end with the letter s.
More examples:
a. Avni found our teacher's laptop in the library after school.
b. Ellis's phone had a colourful case.
c. The cat's fur was soft and sleek.
Watch the video to learn more about singular possessive nouns.
Vid 2.1: Singular Possessive Nouns
A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or animal.
Examples: women, televisions, elephants, classrooms.
When creating plural possessive nouns, there are two important rules to keep in mind.
Fig 2.2: Rules of Plural Possessive Nouns3
Engage in this fun game to recapitulate your learning on singular and plural possessive nouns.
Summary:
Summary:
The possessive nouns indicate that something belongs to someone, and it usually ends with 's or just an apostrophe.
A singular noun identifies one person, thing, animal or place. For singular possessive nouns:
Add 's to singular words to show possession.
For example: The author's novel became a bestseller.
If a singular word ends in s, it is still necessary to add 's.
For example: The boss's presentation left a lasting impression on the clients.
A plural noun identifies more than one person, thing, animal or place. For plural possessive nouns:
When a plural possessive noun ends in -s, use only the apostrophe at the end of the word
For example: The students' essays demonstrated their writing skills.
When a plural possessive noun does NOT end in s, end the word with an 's.
For example: The women's soccer team practised hard for the tournament.
Extension/Further Reading:
1. Click on this link to explore this additional quiz game for an enriching learning experience.
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