Online Writing Center
Darton State College

The plural form of a noun* indicates two or
more of a thing or person or idea.
◦ tree-trees, medium-media, woman-women

The possessive form of a noun shows
ownership or possession.
◦ George-George’s, book-book’s, girl-girl’s
◦ Parsons-Parsons’, books-books’, girls-girls’
* See more on plural nouns in “Nouns” in the Online Writing Center.

To form the possessive case of most singular
nouns and indefinite pronouns, add ‘s.
◦
◦
◦
◦
Thomas Hardy’s novels
the phone’s ring tone
the mayor’s request
the theory’s origin

When a singular noun ends with an “s” letter
or sound and has two or more syllables, add
the apostrophe only:
◦ Brutus’ actions
◦ the Netherlands’ royal family
◦ Anthony Burgess’ novels


To form the possessive case of a regular plural
noun, first add “s” to make the noun plural, and
then add the ‘.
◦ dog (singular noun): The dog is mine.
◦ dogs (plural noun): The dogs are mine.
◦ dogs’ (plural possessive noun):
The dogs’ tails are bushy.
Some nouns are plural but do not end in “s.” Add
“s” and the apostrophe to make them possessive:
◦ the deer’s antlers
◦ the women’s movement




anyone: This is anyone’s game.
everybody: Everybody’s patience is fading.
no one: No one’s answers were correct.
one: One’s desires are not always fulfilled.
* See more about indefinite pronouns in “Pronouns” in the Online
Writing Center.

In compound words (two or more words
signaling one entity), the last word receives
the possessive mark:
◦ My mother-in-law’s pies are delicious.
◦ My mother-in-laws’ (two mothers-in-law) pies are
delicious.
◦ We unanimously accepted the Portsmouth City
Council’s decisions.
◦ Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon’s famous line of
division

On the previous slide, you saw this sentence:
◦ Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon’s famous line of
division.
◦ In this sentence, Mason and Dixon are both “owner” or
creators of the famous line known as the Mason-Dixon
Line. Therefore, only the second name receives the
possessive marker.

However, when individual possession needs to be
shown, then all entities receive the possessive
marker:
◦ Newton’s and Leibnitz’ contentious battle over the
invention of calculus is a famous episode in the world of
science.
Odell, Lee, Richard Vacca, and Renee Hobbs. Elements of
Language. 6th course. Austin, Holt, Rinehart, and
Winston, 2001. Print.