This document explains how to form possessive nouns in English. Possessive nouns show possession or ownership and are formed by adding 's to most singular nouns and plural nouns not ending in s. For plural nouns ending in s, only an apostrophe is added. There are some exceptions for singular nouns ending in s. The document provides examples of correctly forming possessive nouns and includes an exercise for the reader to practice identifying and correcting sentences that use possessive nouns incorrectly.

1. Possessive Nouns
Project LA Activity

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