Possessive Nouns: English Grammar

Possessive nouns indicate ownership or possession. They show that something belongs to someone or something else. Here’s an explanation of possessive nouns along with five examples for each type:

  1. Singular Possessive Nouns:
    • Singular possessive nouns show that one person, place, thing, or idea owns or possesses something.
    • Formation: Add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s) to the singular noun.
    • Examples:
      1. Sarah’s cat
      2. the book’s cover
      3. the company’s logo
      4. the child’s toy
      5. the dog’s collar
  2. Plural Possessive Nouns:
    • Plural possessive nouns show that more than one person, place, thing, or idea owns or possesses something.
    • Formation: Add an apostrophe after the plural noun if it ends in “s”; otherwise, add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s) to the plural noun.
    • Examples:
      1. the teachers’ lounge
      2. the dogs’ leashes
      3. the students’ desks
      4. the countries’ flags
      5. the families’ traditions
  3. Singular Possessive Nouns with Irregular Plurals:
    • Some singular possessive nouns are used with irregular plural nouns.
    • Formation: Add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s) to the singular noun.
    • Examples:
      1. the child’s feet
      2. the woman’s teeth
      3. the man’s mice
      4. the goose’s nest
      5. the person’s belongings
  4. Compound Possessive Nouns:
    • Compound possessive nouns consist of two or more words joined together to show joint possession.
    • Formation: Add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s) to the last word in the compound noun.
    • Examples:
      1. my sister-in-law’s car
      2. the president-elect’s speech
      3. the CEO’s assistant
      4. the brother and sister’s house
      5. the cat and dog’s bed
  5. Possessive Nouns with Indefinite Pronouns:
    • Indefinite pronouns can also be used in possessive forms to indicate ownership.
    • Formation: Add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s) to the indefinite pronoun.
    • Examples:
      1. someone’s keys
      2. anybody’s guess
      3. everyone’s opinion
      4. nobody’s business
      5. each other’s support

Understanding possessive nouns is crucial for indicating relationships and ownership in writing. They help clarify who or what possesses something in a sentence.

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