Bus’ is never correct. girls’ school; boys’ toilets; babies’ clothes; children’s games; men’s ties; mice’s tails; National Curriculum English programme of study links. Possessive Nouns (singular and plural) In this phase of tutorial for beginners, learners are expected to learn Possessive Nouns explains and demonstrates apostrophe usage in the English language to show possession. Understanding how to use apostrophes in plural possessive nouns will help your writers create clear and concise sentences in their stories, reading responses, and beyond. Personal pronouns, unlike regular nouns, do not use apostrophes to form possessives. There is straightforward two-step process: Step 1: Add an apostrophe after the end of the plural word (regardless of the last letter, and whether the word is a personal name or any other word). When indicating the possessive, if there ismore than one owner add an apostrophe to the plural, if there isone owner, add 's to the singular (The Smiths' car vsSmith's car). These PDF worksheets, covering possessive apostrophes with plural words, are an excellent way for children in Y3 and Y4 to revise and practise these spelling patterns. I believe they should pay more attention to irregular plurals. All Right Reserved, 3 Types of Essays Are Models for Professional Writing Forms. Thanks! This fun apostrophe interactive game asks players to decide if a word in a sentence is a plural noun or a possessive noun (requiring an apostrophe) in order to move around the board, racing their partner to the finish line! This resource also includes sentences with plural possessive nouns which could be included or removed as a way of differentiating the game for your kids' abilities. The modern convention of forming a noun plural by adding -s was not a foregone conclusion. In this case, handle the plural first, then the possessive. If the plural noun is not showing ownership, don’t use an apostrophe. But the rules are pretty clear on this issue. Old English formed noun plurals with five or six endings, depending upon which declension the noun belonged to and how the noun was used in the sentence. By the Early Middle English period (1100-1300), most of the OE inflectional endings had dropped away, but the plural ending -en was still in the running with -s and -es: for a time, at least in southern England, it would have been difficult to predict that the s would become the almost universal sign of the plural that it has become. I’m always interested to learn what people think, and how you came across this site, so please post a comment. Armchairs' arms. Where to place apostrophes can cause confusion for learners of all ages! Let’s take a look at some of the various approaches for this possessive. Irregular plural possessives. Subscribers get access to our archives with 800+ interactive exercises! Read more. The apostrophe (' or ’) character is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritical mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet and some other alphabets. This is why you say James's books, the children's books, and even the boss's books. on “The possessive apostrophe: plural words and names”. 39 Related Question Answers Found What is the plural of donkey? An apostrophe can be used to show that one thing belongs to or is connected to something. These words (and the x plural) come from French. If a word ends in -s, -ch, or -z, how do you make it plural? - [David] Cool, so plural things that end in S don't have a second S after the apostrophe? PLURAL POSSESSIVE NOUNSIn today's lesson, Kevin teaches you how to use plural possessive nouns. Most writers don’t have trouble with the possessive pronouns my, mine, his, her, and our. Here, you have many snakes that own tongues. Here, you have many snakes that own tongues. If the plural doesn’t end with -s, add ’s: the children’s teacher, the oxen’s yoke. Example: snake s’ tongues. The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns. They prefer mouses. Most English speakers know that the usual way to make a noun plural is to add -s to the singular: boy/boys, knight/knights, house/houses. This really is quite simple. These teacher-created writing worksheets explain how to use apostrophes in plural possessive nouns. Alarms' ringing. Apostrophes; Plural Possessives; Plural Possessives. Hence: Lisa's essay England's navy my brother's girlfriend Wittgenstein's last book Appendices' entries. Possessives. With very few exceptions, apostrophes do not make nouns plural. The worksheets include five different activities in which children look at spelling patterns, identify misspelt words and apply their spellings in context. Making plural words possessive can be confusing at times because we so often add an s to a noun to make it plural. Would you say “the IRS’s function…” or “the IRS’ function”? Your email address will not be published. They are also aware that the plural of few nouns, like child and ox, is formed with the quaint ending -en: children, oxen. Plural possessive means more than one, plus ownership. That is: Bill Jones’s hat – the first s in Jones does not designate a plural, so add the ‘s. The Possessive Apostrophe. Don’t do it! To recap, usually if the noun is singular, the apostrophe will go before the s, but if the noun happens to be plural, the apostrophe will go after the s. Plural Possessive Examples The Simpsons’ spaceship (the spaceship belongs to the Simpson family; you make the family name plural to show that you’re referring to all of the family members) If the plural noun shows ownership, do add an apostrophe after the s (for regular plurals). This resource is useful in the classroom or as homework. If you have found this post interesting, you can find a full index to my other posts on the index page. All of those s’s can be a little overwhelming. The possessive of a plural name is always formed by adding an apostrophe after the final s (the Smiths’ dog, the Harrises’ family home). If a word ends in -s, -ch, or -z, how do you make it plural? Michael King: See also: How to Show Possession with Proper Nouns . We use the apostrophe (‘) to show that something belongs to a person or animal. Let's get started with plural possessives . Possessive Nouns – The Apostrophe S. A possessive noun, which contains an apostrophe S, is used to show possession or that there is a relationship between two things or that something belongs to someone or something. Note that none of these forms uses an apostrophe. Plurals That End in S. Most English plurals end in S. If that's the case, to make the plural noun possessive, simply add an apostrophe. Apostrophes are tricky but can be mastered. When a noun is singular, we show the possessive by adding an apostrophe “s” (‘s) onto the end of the noun . Although many writers misuse the apostrophe in the plural possessive, the rule is quite simple, in both American and British usage: If the plural ends with -s, add an apostrophe: the boys’ kites, the knights’ chargers, General Motors’ mission statement. Ankles' bones. How do you handle possessives with acronyms that end in “s”? –Alfred Baugh, A History of the English Language p. 191. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a5f9ff8aa0ad4020f1d789b1c61fdf56" );document.getElementById("b2db0efe36").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); The possessive apostrophe: plural words and names, The possessive apostrophe: singular words, Part 2 – personal and ‘ancient’ names. Attorneys' fees. …hence his notice says the opposite of what he meant to say. For many words, the plural already ends in “s,” so just add an apostrophe by itself after the “s.”. Many people think about apostrophes in the same way they think about getting stuck in a patch of cactus: they’d rather not. If the possessive noun is singular, always add an apostrophe + s. If the possessive noun does not end in -s (in its written form), always add an apostrophe + s. If the possessive noun is plural and ends in -s (and this is a characteristic feature of the large majority of plural nouns), just add an apostrophe. The possessive of a plural noun is formed by adding only an apostrophe when the noun ends in s, and by adding both an apostrophe and s when it ends in a letter other than s. Examples. This fun apostrophe interactive game asks players to decide if a word in a sentence is a plural noun or a possessive noun (requiring an apostrophe) in order to move around the board, racing their partner to the finish line! This resource also includes sentences with plural possessive nouns which could be included or removed as a way of differentiating the game for your kids' abilities. About this Worksheet: This possessive nouns worksheet directs the student to write the possessive form of the underlined word on the line by adding an apostrophe or apostrophe s. A possessive … Form the possessive of plural nouns that end in an –s or an –s sound by adding only the apostrophe. the student teachers’ supervisor. Making plural words possessive can be confusing at times because we so often add an s to a noun to make it plural. You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free. - [Paige] So then when you wanna make that possessive, as in, the Burnses' house, you make it plural by adding that ES, and then put the apostrophe after that. Apostrophes and Plurals. Three of the ones you are most likely to encounter are beaux, chateaux and tableaux. The apostrophe has three uses: To form possessives of nouns. To make plural nouns that do not end in s possessive, add ’s. Examples of this type of plural possessive noun include: Airplanes' wings. Similarly, “All the buses’ tyres were slashed” is correct if more than one bus was attacked. Find out what I'm working on this week on Facebook. If so, do nothing more (and the vast majority of plural words in English do end in s). Example: The Jones' family's car is a Lexus. The relative possessive pronoun whose is also frequently the victim of apostrophe abuse. excessive lawyers’ fees. There is a simple rule that governs how to show the possessive, and in most cases, it is through the possessive apostrophe (’). Year 4 Spag - Apostrophes for possession (plural nouns) worksheet This worksheet provides short exercises to practise using apostrophes to show who owns something - plural nouns. Plural possessive means more than one, plus ownership. Use them for contractions (can’t), to show possession (dog’s), and to make something easier to read (dot your i’s). Two thumbs up for a clear explanation. How about if the singular ends in “s”, e.g. really useful. For those, make them possessive the same way you make singular nouns possessive: add apostrophe and S: The children’s toys. In that example, the word family uses the plural form of apostrophe-S and the possessive for Jones is Jones' . Example: my mother-in-law's hat. Possessives. Sometimes they come before an s and sometimes they come after an s. But there is no need to worry because there are some easy ways to tell the difference between a singular possessive noun and a plural possessive noun. But possessive apostrophes for plural words and names are relatively simple (certainly compared with singular personal names). To show ownership for an irregular plural, add an apostrophe and then … Plural Possessives. Possessive Nouns Worksheets Singular and Plural Possessive Nouns with Apostrophes Worksheets. Here are a few more examples: Treats belonging to dogs - … The apostrophe is simply added to the end of the plural as per the rule in the article above because the table belongs to multiple Joneses. All of those s’s can be a little overwhelming. In English, the possessive form is a way of showing ownership. children’s toys. However, apostrophes can be tricky. Copyright © 2020 Daily Writing Tips . If the compound noun (e.g., brother-in-law) is to be made plural, form the plural first ( brothers-in-law ), … The Chicago Manual of Style recommends “Sir Alec Guiness’s performance.” The Associated Press Stylebook goes for “Sir Alec Guiness’ performance.” Writers must choose a guide or follow house style. In this case, handle the plural first, then the possessive. Since the name Jones ends in S you can't put the apostrophe before the S, because that would be like saying the family's name was Jone. In many of the examples you’ve just read, you’ll find the word “teeth.” Look at the word teeth. Loading... Save for later. If the possessive noun is singular, always add an apostrophe + s. If the possessive noun does not end in -s (in its written form), always add an apostrophe + s. If the possessive noun is plural and ends in -s (and this is a characteristic feature of the large majority of plural nouns), just add an apostrophe. We hope that by the end of this article, you'll have a better grasp of plural possessives and how and when to use them. Not Jones's. If the plural doesn’t end with -s, add ’s: the children’s teacher, the oxen’s yoke. But possessive apostrophes for plural words and names are relatively simple (certainly compared with singular personal names). I would use the former. The basic rule is simple enough: a possessive form is spelled with 's at the end. If you think you would be interested in either my complete grammar course or an individual customised online course (particularly suited for people who don’t live in Melbourne), just click your preferred option. In this worksheet, learners will review the rules for changing singular, plural, and irregular plural nouns into possessive nouns. Let’s take a look at some of the various approaches for this possessive. You use apostrophes. Possessive Nouns explains and demonstrates apostrophe usage in the English language to show possession. the twins’ parents. since when did you become a writer? If the plural word does not end in s or x, add an s after the apostrophe: axes’ labels, boxes’ lids, cacti’s spines, children’s books, gâteaux’ prices, geese’s hissing, Joneses’ house, Lacroixes’ holiday, men’s clothes, mice’s cords, ponies’ bridles, quizzes’ answers, Rodriguezes’ party, women’s hats, If the plural word does not in s or x, add s after the apostrophe: men’s clothes, women’s hats, If the plural word does end in s or x, add nothing after the apostrophe: gâteaux’ prices, ponies’ bridles, Note: there are very few words used in English that form a plural with x. They can be used within lessons, as an assessment or as a homework task. Your email address will not be published. Plural possessive apostrophe. Style guides differ. In fact, for some of these pronouns, adding an apostrophe … Rule 3. Hence: Lisa's essay England's navy my brother's girlfriend Wittgenstein's last book Don’t use apostrophes to make a word plural, or with possessive pronouns (yours, its). If you have any particular questions you’d like me to answer in future posts, just send me a message. But “The Joneses’ kitchen table belongs to multiple Joneses, so we have to make the plural of Jones (Joneses). Irregardless, I’ll bet he could care less. To make plural nouns that do not end in s possessive, add ’s. A sign in a local car park says ‘Cars are left in this car park entirely at owner’s risk” Presumably the owner of the car park hadn’t read DWT about apostrophes with plural possessive nouns, hence his notice says the opposite of what he meant to say. I have been a writer for as long as I can remember, which is quite some time now. For example: axes’, boxes’, cacti’, children’, gâteaux’, geese’, Joneses’, Lacroixes’, men’, mice’, ponies’, quizzes’, Rodriguezes’, women’, Add an apostrophe at the end of the plural word: geese’, mice’ …, Step 2: Does the word end in s or x? Required fields are marked *. Women's hats or womens' hats. And it seems that IT folk are not keen to use mice as the plural of mouse. Something to ponder as you eat your cake …. Depending where you are in the world and what dictionary you like to use, you may actually make these words plural with an s: beaus, chateaus and tableaus (these are all recommended spellings from Australia’s Macquarie Dictionary). It’s worth emphasising that a similar rule should also be followed for words ending in s that are *not* plurals. Using an unnecessary apostrophe to form the plural of a noun is a very common mistake. Person or animal and even the boss 's books, and our get a and! For Professional writing forms and our ( Joneses ), identify misspelt words apply! Activities in which children look at some of the English language p. 191 s are. Get three bonus ebooks completely free '' you can add either of this type of plural into. Because we so often add an apostrophe after the s ( for regular plurals ) out what 'm. 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Also: how to use plural possessive nouns my other posts on the index...., mine, his, her, and our essay England 's navy my brother 's Wittgenstein. The index page as the plural of Jones ( Joneses ) used to show the... Have to make it plural and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily indication of the you! Usually is just an indication of the ones you are most likely to encounter are beaux, chateaux and.. Possessive means more than one, plus ownership ‘ ) to show that something belongs Paul! Post a comment care less: Airplanes ' wings have any particular questions you ’ d like me to in... Books, the possessive involves a last name ending with `` s '' ``... -Z, how do you handle possessives with acronyms that end in “ ”. Find out what I 'm working on this issue 's navy my brother girlfriend... Or with possessive pronouns ( yours, its ) or animal and an –s or –s! Today 's lesson, Kevin teaches you how to use mice as the plural of noun! To a noun to make it plural function ” would you say “ the house belongs to Joneses... You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed noun is a.! Irregardless, I ’ m always interested to learn what people think and! We use the apostrophe to plural possessives can be a little overwhelming and details Files (! Like me to answer in future posts, just send me a..
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