Possessive Forms of Nouns

 

In English, the singular form of the (count and noncount) noun has its own possessive form. The plural form of the (count) noun also has its own possessive form.

Notice the following possessive forms and patterns of some common regular and irregular nouns:

Chart of Possessive Forms of Some Common Nouns

 

Regular Nouns
SINGULAR NOUN SINGULAR POSSESSIVE PLURAL NOUN PLURAL POSSESSIVE
       
parent parent's parents parents'
cousin cousin's cousins cousins'
sister sister's sisters sisters'


Irregular Nouns
SINGULAR NOUN SINGULAR POSSESSIVE PLURAL NOUN PLURAL POSSESSIVE

wife wife's wives wives'
family family's families families'
child child's children children's
person person's people people's
Mr. Radley Mr. Radley's the Radleys the Radleys'

Notice the small differences between the singular possessive and the plural noun. Notice the small differences between the plural noun and the plural possessive.  Notice the differences between a regular plural noun's possessive form, and some irregular plural nouns' possessive forms. Now let's do an activity to sharpen your skills.

Next...Practice Distinguishing Possessive Nouns

 

Next, Possessive Nouns:  Editing Practice, Exercise 3


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