Possessive Nouns in English Grammar • 7ESL

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Possessive nouns can be a tricky topic for many language learners. They are essential for expressing ownership and relationships between people, places, and things. In this reference, you will explore what possessive nouns are and learn the rules for forming both singular and plural possessive nouns. You will also see how to indicate possession when two nouns are joined together and how to handle irregular plural possessive nouns.

Errors often occur with possessive nouns, such as confusing plural and singular possessive forms or using apostrophes incorrectly. This reference will show you common mistakes and how to avoid them. Additionally, you’ll find out the differences between possessive pronouns and possessive nouns, and explore examples of singular and plural possessive forms.

What Are Possessive Nouns?

A possessive noun names who or what owns something. They are often formed by adding an apostrophe and the letter s to a noun. For example, “the dog’s bone” shows that the bone belongs to the dog.

Singular nouns: Add an apostrophe + s
- Examples: The car’s front seat, Bartkowski’s book
Plural nouns ending in s: Add only an apostrophe
- Examples: Babies’ shoes, Lemons’ acidity, Owls’ eyes
Nouns already ending in s: Add just an apostrophe
- Example: The boss’ office

Example Sentences:

The teacher’s desk
The cat’s toy
The students’ books
The children’s playground
The Jones’ house

Possessive Nouns | Forming Rules

Forming Singular Nouns Possessive

If a singular noun, add ‘s:

The girl’s hands were chapped by the cold.
The cat’s toy was missing.

Even if the noun is a proper noun, add ‘s:

Richard’s attempts to solve the problem were rewarded.

For names ending in s, add an apostrophe + s, or just an apostrophe. Both are correct, although the first option is more common:

Charles’s car (or Charles’ car)
Chambers’s house (or Chambers’ house)
Chris’s exam (or Chris’ exam)

Forming Plural Nouns Possessive

If a noun is plural in form and ends in an s, add an apostrophe only:

The tables’ legs were all wobbly and needed repair.
Cherries’ stones can break your teeth if you are not careful.
People are prepared to pay high prices for designers’ clothes.

If a plural noun does not end in s, add ‘s:

The children’s clothes were brand new.
The prices of men’s shoes run from £30 to £90.

Indicating Possession When Two Nouns Are Joined Together

If there is joint possession, use the correct possessive for only the word closest to the noun:

Clinton and Gore’s campaign was successful.
I didn’t come to Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s wedding.
Carol and Susan’s car is out of gasoline.

Indicating Possession When Two Nouns Are Joined, and Ownership Is Separate

If there is separate possession of the same noun, use the correct possessive form for each word:

Susan’s and Beth’s books are full of useful information.
The car’s and the bicycle’s owners could speak French perfectly.

Making Hyphenated or Compound Nouns Possessive

For hyphenated or compound nouns, use the correct possessive form for the word closest to the noun:

My daughter-in-law’s gift is a diamond necklace.
The English teacher’s method is very effective.
Your neighborhood letter carrier’s job is more difficult than you imagine.

Avoid possessives with compound plurals.

Irregular Plural Possessive Nouns

Irregular plural nouns don’t follow typical pluralization rules. Here are some examples:

Women: Women’s
Men: Men’s
Children: Children’s
Geese: Geese’s
Deer: Deer’s

Some irregular nouns do not change when possessive. For instance, “sheep” is both singular and plural. Its possessive form is “sheep’s”.

Common Mistakes with Possessive Nouns

Confusing Plural and Singular Possessive Nouns

One mistake is mixing up plural and singular possessive nouns. For example, writing “the dog’s” instead of “the dogs'”. Remember:

Type	Example	Correct Form
Singular	“dog’s”	Dog’s toy
Plural	“dogs’”	Dogs’ toys

Singular possessive nouns use an apostrophe followed by an “s”, while plural possessive nouns use an apostrophe after the “s”.

Using Apostrophes Incorrectly

Incorrect use of apostrophes is also common. For example, writing “it’s” when you mean “its”, or “your” instead of “you’re”.

It’s = “it is” or “it has” (e.g., It’s raining)
Its = Possessive pronoun (e.g., The cat licked its paw)
You’re = “you are” (e.g., You’re nice)
Your = Possessive pronoun (e.g., Your book)

Forgetting the Apostrophe

Another frequent error is forgetting to use the apostrophe. For example, writing “the dogs toys” instead of “the dog’s toys”.

Possessive nouns always use an apostrophe to show ownership or possession. Always double-check to ensure the apostrophe is used correctly.

Possessive Pronouns vs. Possessive Nouns

Possessive Pronouns

A possessive pronoun shows ownership and replaces a noun. Common examples include “mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “its,” “ours,” and “theirs.”

For instance, instead of saying “the bone belongs to the dog,” you can say “the bone is his.”

Differences between Possessive Nouns and Possessive Pronouns

Possessive nouns show ownership of a noun, while possessive pronouns replace a noun and show ownership.

Possessive Noun	Possessive Pronoun
the dog’s bone	the bone is his
Sarah’s book	the book is hers

Possessive nouns are always followed by a noun, like “the cat’s toy.” Possessive pronouns stand alone, such as “the toy is theirs.”

Possessive nouns show ownership of both living and non-living things. Possessive pronouns show ownership of living things.

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An experienced English grammar teacher since 2015, with a dedication to helping students improve their language skills.