Possessive nouns show possession or ownership. They are formed by adding 's to singular nouns or plural nouns not ending in s, and only an apostrophe for plural nouns ending in s. For singular nouns ending in s, either 's or an apostrophe can be added. The document provides examples of correctly using possessive nouns and has students practice identifying and writing possessive nouns in sample sentences.

1. Possessive Nouns
Fourth grade

2. •Possessive nouns
are used to show
possession (owning,
or having).

3. The dog's collar is too
large.
The word "dog's" is the
possessive noun. It tells you that
the noun "collar" belongs to the
dog. The dog owns, or
possesses the collar.
Add 's to the end of a singular
noun to make it possessive.

4. The sky's color is
changing.
• sky + 's
• Add 's to the end of a plural noun
that does not end with an s.

5. We saw the children's
snowman.
• children + 's
• Add only the apostrophe (') to
the end of a plural noun that
ends with an s.

6. My sisters' names are
Kate and Nikki.
• sisters + '
• Optional: If the noun is
singular and ends with an s,
add 's or add only the
apostrophe (').

7. The bus's engine stopped.
The bus' engine stopped.
• Note: Most sources
recommend the shorter
version if the ending "iz"
sound is not wanted.

8. Can you find the noun in
each sentence that should
be possessive? Write it
correctly on your paper.

9. 1. The Pilgrims ship was
uncomfortable.
ANSWER

10. 1. The Pilgrims’ ship
was uncomfortable.

11. 2. A sincere person
compliment is a
valuable gift.
ANSWER

12. 2. A sincere person’s
compliment is a
valuable gift.

13. 3. Mrs. Graves class
has a great website.
ANSWER

14. 3. Mrs. Graves’ class has
a great website.

15. 4. The class teacher
was very young.
ANSWER

16. 4. The class’ teacher was
very young.
or class’s

17. 5. The pony rider was
too heavy.
ANSWER

18. 5. The pony’s rider
was too heavy.

19. 6. Your brother
attitude got him in
trouble.
ANSWER

20. 6. Your brother’s
attitude got him in
trouble.

21. 7. Amy report card
was wonderful.
ANSWER

22. 7. Amy’s report card
was wonderful.

23. 8. The little babies
nursery had five
beds.
ANSWER

24. 8. The little babies’
nursery had five
beds.

25. 9. I didn’t know I was
eating your cat tuna.
ANSWER

26. 9. I didn’t know I was
eating your cat’s
tuna.

27. 10. The girls outfits
were exactly the
same.
ANSWER

28. 10. The girls’ outfits
were exactly the
same.

29. 11. We were proud of
Chris performance.
ANSWER

30. 11. We were proud of
Chris’ performance.

31. How did you do?
• For more practice, print and
complete the online
worksheet.
• Play the online matching game