Possessive NounsPossessive Nouns

A possessive noun shows ownership.A possessive noun shows ownership.

Examples:Examples: Kathleen’s deskKathleen’s desk an hour’s timean hour’s time those horses’ manesthose horses’ manes the royal couple’s daughterthe royal couple’s daughter the princess’s crownthe princess’s crown a child’s coata child’s coat

To form the possessive of a singular To form the possessive of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and an noun, add an apostrophe and an ss..

A boy’s capA boy’s cap The baby’s toyThe baby’s toy Claire’s penClaire’s pen Charles’s opinion (add an Charles’s opinion (add an ’s’s even on a singular even on a singular

noun ending in noun ending in ss!)!) Note: A proper noun ending in s may take only an Note: A proper noun ending in s may take only an

apostrophe if the addition of ’s would make the apostrophe if the addition of ’s would make the name awkward to say.name awkward to say.

Ms. Rodgers’ catMs. Rodgers’ cat

To form the possessive of a plural To form the possessive of a plural noun that does not end in noun that does not end in ss, add an , add an

’s’s.. mice’s tricksmice’s tricks children’s gameschildren’s games women’s shoeswomen’s shoes men’s hatsmen’s hats teeth’s cavitiesteeth’s cavities geese’s migrationgeese’s migration

To form the possessive of a plural To form the possessive of a plural noun ending in s, add only the noun ending in s, add only the

apostrophe.apostrophe.

cats’ basketscats’ baskets four days’ delayfour days’ delay the Carsons’ housethe Carsons’ house the girls’ ticketsthe girls’ tickets the babies’ toysthe babies’ toys

Use an apostrophe and an s to form Use an apostrophe and an s to form the plurals of letters, numerals, and the plurals of letters, numerals, and symbols, and of words referred to as symbols, and of words referred to as

words.words. Your o’s look like a’s and your u’s look like Your o’s look like a’s and your u’s look like

n’s.n’s. There are three 5’s and two 8’s in his There are three 5’s and two 8’s in his

telephone number.telephone number. The class has eight A’s, six B’s, four C’s, and The class has eight A’s, six B’s, four C’s, and

three D’s.three D’s. Your paragraph has too many Your paragraph has too many wewe’s in it.’s in it.