Form the singular or plural possessive
Key Notes:
Understanding Possessive Nouns
- A possessive noun shows ownership or possession.
- It indicates that something belongs to someone or something.
Forming Singular Possessive Nouns
- To form the possessive of a singular noun, add an apostrophe (
'
) followed by the letters
.- Example: The dog’s bone (The bone belongs to the dog).
- Example: Lisa’s book (The book belongs to Lisa).
Forming Plural Possessive Nouns
- If a plural noun already ends in
s
, simply add an apostrophe after thes
.- Example: The dogs’ owner (The owner of the dogs).
- Example: The teachers’ lounge (The lounge for the teachers).
- If a plural noun does not end in
s
, add an apostrophe followed bys
.- Example: The children’s toys (The toys of the children).
- Example: The men’s room (The room for men).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not confuse plural nouns with possessive nouns.
- Plural noun: Cats are cute. (No possession)
- Possessive noun: The cat’s tail is long. (Shows possession)
- Avoid placing the apostrophe in the wrong place.
- Incorrect: The dog bone’s (this could imply the bone has something of its own).
- Correct: The dog’s bone.
Using Possessives in Sentences
- Have students practice writing sentences using both singular and plural possessives.
- Example: The girl’s dress is blue. (Singular possessive)
- Example: The girls’ dresses are blue. (Plural possessive)
Possessive Pronouns vs. Possessive Nouns
- Possessive pronouns (e.g., his, her, their) do not use an apostrophe, unlike possessive nouns.
- Example: That is her book. (No apostrophe)
Possessive Nouns in Compound Words
- When forming the possessive of compound nouns, add the possessive form to the last word.
- Example: My sister-in-law’s car (The car belongs to my sister-in-law).
Let’s practice!✒️