Possessive Nouns Adapted by MSc. Angel Galarza What are possessives? • Possessives show ownership. • They show something belongs to someone or something. • In other words, they “possess” something. • For example, if we want to show that a book belongs to the boy, it would be stated: the boy’s book The coat belongs to the girl. the girl’s coat The bone belongs to the dog. the dog’s bone The pencil belongs to the teacher. the teacher’s pencil The jump ropes belong to the students. the students’ jump ropes 3 Rules to Make Possessives • Rule 1: To form the possessive of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and s (’s) = car = car’s • Rule 2: To form the possessive of a plural noun ending in s, add only an apostrophe (’) = dogs = dogs’ • Rule 3: To form the possessive of a plural noun that does not end in s, add an apostrophe and s (’s) = mice = mice’s Rule 1: To form the possessive of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and s (’s) • A noun is a person, place, or thing • “Singular” means that there is only one (when there is more than one, it is called “plural” • For example, if the singular noun “cat” has a brush, the possessive form is: the cat’s brush ‘s The homework of Mario. Mario’s homework. The house of Carlos. Carlos’ house ‘s The friends of Danna Danna’s friends. The sisters of Kevin. Kevin’s sisters The lady owns the coat. 1. The ladies coat 2. The ladys’ coat 3. The lady’s coat The man has a belt. 1. The mans belt 2. The mans’ belt 3. The man’s belt Frank owns the boat. 1. Franks boat 2. Frank’s boat 3. Franks’ boat Rule 2: For a plural noun ending in s, add only an apostrophe (’) • A plural noun means there is more than one. For example, “boy” is singular and “boys” is plural. • Since one s was already added to make this noun plural, a second s is not added. • Example: the three girls’ notebook Not: the three girls’s notebook Three ladies own the business. 1. Ladies business 2. Ladies’ business 3. Ladies’s business The pen belongs to two dogs. 1. The dogs pen 2. The dogs’ pen 3. The dog’s pen The ring belongs to the girl. 1. The girls’ ring 2. The girl’s ring 3. The girls ring The bike belongs to three boys. 1. The boys’s bike 2. The boy’s bike 3. The boys’ bike The four cooks own the kitchen. 1. The cooks kitchen 2. The cooks’ kitchen 3. The cook’s kitchen The tools belong to dad. 1. Dad’s tools 2. Dads’ tools 3. Dads tools Some nouns are made into plurals without adding s. man men mouse mice child children Rule 3: For a plural noun that does not end in s, add an apostrophe and s (‘s). • The cars belong to the men. The men’s cars • The cheese belongs to the mice. The mice’s cheese • The children own the toys. The children’s toys The nest belongs to the mice. 1. The mice’s nest 2. The mices’ nest 3. The mices nest The dishes belong to the women. 1. Womens’ dishes 2. Women’s dishes 3. Womens’s dishes The people own the seats. 1. Peoples’ seats 2. Peoples seats’ 3. People’s seats Review • Singular possessive nouns add ’s the man’s glove Joe’s hat • Plural nouns ending in s, add only the apostrophe ’. the four cats’ toy • Plural nouns that do not end in s, add ’s. the men’s cars parents grandparents grandad Abraham and Mona are Bart’s … grandchildren children grandson Bart, Lisa and Maggie are Abrahan and Mona’s … grandmother grandfather father Abraham is Bart’s … granddaughter nephew grandson Bart is Abraham’s … grandmother mother grandad Mona is Lisa’s … daughter granddaughter grandson Lisa is Mona’s … father grandparents parents Homer and Marge are Lisa’s … father grandad husband Homer is Marge’s … sister wife mother Marge is Homer’s … uncle father grandad Homer is Lisa’s … mother aunt grandmother Marge is Lisa’s … granddaughter children grandson They are Homer and Marge’s … nephew grandson son Bart is Homer and Marge’s … sisters daughters nieces Lisa and Maggie are Homer and Marge’s … nieces sisters cousins Lisa and Maggie are Bart’s … cousin nephew brother Bart is Lisa and Maggie’s … uncle father grandad Herb is Lisa’s … nephew niece daughter Lisa is Herb’s … cousin niece nephew Burt is Herb’s … aunt uncle cousin Selma is Lisa’s … niece cousin sister Ling is Lisa’s … Practice #1 1. This is _____book. (Peter) 2. Let's go to the_____ . (Smiths) 3. The ____room is upstairs. (children) 4. _____sister is twelve years old. (John) 5. ____and____ school is old. (Susan – Steve) 6. _____shoes are on the second floor. (men) 7. My ____car was not expensive. (parents) 8. ______CD player is new. (Charles) 9. This is the ____ bike. (boy) 10.These are the ______pencils. (boys) Let’s Talk Practice with a partner 1. Where are you from? 2. When were you born? 3. How old are you? 4. What is your date of birth? 5. What is your phone number? 6. Are you married or single? Let’s Talk Work with a partner and answer the questions. 1. What is your mother’s name? 2. Who is your father’s brother? 3. What is your best friend’s name? 4. What is your teacher’s name? 5. Who is your mother’s sister? 6. Who are your mother’s parents? 7. What time is your class at UAE?
