The document discusses possessive nouns and how they are formed in English. Possessive nouns show possession or ownership of another noun. To form a possessive noun, an apostrophe is added to the end of a singular noun. For plural nouns ending in s, only an apostrophe is added. For other plural nouns, an apostrophe and s are added. Examples are provided to illustrate possessive forms for both singular and plural nouns.

1. 1/5/2009 1Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar
By: Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar http://www.kau.edu.sa/SBANJER
http://wwwdrshadiabanjar.blogspot.com

2. Possessive nouns are
used to show
possession(owning, or
having).having).
1/5/2009 2Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar

3. The girl's book is on the table.The girl's book is on the table.
The word “girl's" is the
possessive noun. It tells
you that the noun
“book“ belongs to the“book“ belongs to the
girl. The girl owns, or
possesses the book.
Add 's to the end of a
singular noun to make it
possessive. 1/5/2009 3Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar

4. If a singular noun ends in –s, there are two possible forms:
Add an apostrophe and –s.
Add only an apostrophe.
If a singular noun ends in –s, there are two possible forms:
Add an apostrophe and –s.
Add only an apostrophe.
The bus' engine stopped.
The bus's engine stopped.
1/5/2009Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 4
Note: Most sources recommend
the shorter version.

5. sisters + '
If the plural noun ends with an -s,
add only the apostrophe (').add only the apostrophe (').
1/5/2009 5Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar

6. children + 's
Add an apostrophe (') + an -s
to the end of a plural noun that
does not end with an s
to the end of a plural noun that
does not end with an s.
1/5/2009 6Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar

7. Singular Noun Possessive Form
the girl
Tom
my wife
a lady
Thomas
the girl’s
Tom’s
my wife’s
a lady’s
Thomas’s/ Thomas’
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Thomas Thomas’s/ Thomas’

8. Plural Noun Possessive Form
the girls
their wives
the ladies
the men
the girls’
their wives’
the ladies’
the men’s
1/5/2009 8Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar
the men
my children
the men’s
my children’s

9. HAVE A NICE DAY!!!!
1/5/2009Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar 9