120 hr. TEFL Course Module 4-Writing (Pt.8 Possessive Nouns)

Module 4: Writing

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4.2.3 Nouns (3 of 3)

Possessive nouns: Because nouns represent people, places, things, and ideas, they sometimes need to be possessive to show that the person, place, thing, or idea owns or is in possession of something.  Possession is usually marked by an apostrophe (’) and follows these rules:

• You can make most nouns possessive simply by adding an apostrophe and then an “s” at the end of the word.
  • Mark: Mark’s
  • Dog: dog’s
  • Boy – boy’s

• When you come across a plural noun that ends in “s” or a noun that already ends in “s,” you can make it possessive by simply adding an apostrophe.
  • Boys: boys’
  • Class: class’
  • Dogs: dogs’

• If you have one item, but you would like to express that two different people or things own it, you would add an apostrophe and an “s” after the last person’s name.
  • Bill and Frank’s new house
  • Boxer and Spot’s toy
  • Sally and Ann’s car.

• If the objects owned by two different people are separate things, then you should add an apostrophe and an “s” at the end of each name.
  • Bobby’s and Mary’s wedding rings are gold.
  • Jill’s and Samantha’s jobs are difficult.
  • Jean’s and Yancy’s tables are both oak.