Showing posts with label apostrophe s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apostrophe s. Show all posts

Friday, July 13, 2012

English 101: Possessive Form of Nouns

When a noun does not end in s, form the singular and the plural possessive by adding an apostrophe s ('s)

Examples:
the girl hat = the girl's hat
the lady umbrella = the lady's umbrella
the children books = the children's books
John car = John's car

When a noun ends in s, form the singular possessive by adding an apostrophe s ('s):

Examples:
the boss desk = the boss's desk
Charles laptop = Charles's laptop

When a noun ends in s, form the plural possessive by adding only an apostrophe ('):

Examples:
the ladies handbags = the ladies' handbags
the girls umbrellas = the girls' umbrellas

Please note that the possessive is used even when the noun modified is not expressed:

Examples:

He went to Joey's. ( Joey's house)
Mr Cruz  has an appointment at the dentist's. (dentist's office).

Practice Test

 Choose the correct possessive form of nouns in the following sentences:

1. I buy my clothes at (Santos's, Santos') Store.
2. Bring these flowers to (Charles's, Charles') mother.
3. They sell (ladies's, ladies') handbags.
4. John and (Mary's, Marys') father is in the Philippines.
5. The (Philippines's, Philippines') islands are about 7,100.
6. The librarian keeps all the (childrens', children's) books.
7. Joe cleans the (boss's, boss') chair.
8. The (mice's, mices') tails are cut by a curving knife.
9. Let's go to (Jess's, Jess').
10. I will go to the (doctor's, doctors') this afternoon.

Answers: