Plural Possessives
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How to use plural possessives properly
Do you struggle with plural possessives? If so, don't feel bad, as you're not alone! A recent poll showed that nearly half of the 2,000 Britons surveyed did not know how to use an apostrophe properly, and punctuating plural possessives was the most common apostrophe error.
Knowing when and where to add the apostrophe to plural possessives can be tricky. Further complicating matters is that the correct usage sometimes looks and sounds wrong. 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.
Let's get started with plural possessives
Perhaps you are simply wondering what a plural possessive is; let's start there. When there is more than one of a noun, it is plural. The majority of nouns are made plural by adding an "s" to the end, though as with so many things in the English language, there are exceptions (e.g., tooth and teeth). A noun is possessive when it shows ownership or possession of something. Most singular nouns are made possessive by adding an apostrophe and an "s" at the end of them:
Alice had one kitten. When it was playing in the kitchen, the kitten's toy went under the refrigerator.
Plural possessives indicate when there is more than one of a noun and show ownership of something. The possessive of most plural nouns is formed by adding an apostrophe only:
Alice had two kittens. When they were playing in the kitchen, the kittens' toy went under the refrigerator.
An exception to this rule is the possessive of plural nouns that do not end in "s." These are formed by adding an apostrophe and an "s" to the noun:
The women's dressing room was very small.
When the singular and plural of a noun both end in an "s," the possessive for both is formed by adding an apostrophe only:
The species' status was changed to endangered.
In the case of a noun where both forms end in an "s," it may be necessary to reword the sentence to avoid ambiguity and to clarify whether you are referring to a singular or plural noun:
The status of the two species was changed to endangered.
The status of the species was changed to endangered.
Know when to avoid using plural possessives
It is also sometimes advisable to reword a sentence in order to avoid using awkward sounding plural possessives. There is no hard or fast rule to this, and both phrasings will be correct, so go ahead and use whatever you think sounds best.
To determine this, try reading your sentence aloud to see if the plural possessive sounds particularly awkward. For example, " The Rodgerses' house is big" is a bit of a mouthful, so you may consider changing the phrase to "The Rodgers family has a big house."
Still unsure if you are using plural possessives correctly? Order an English grammar check to make sure your apostrophe is being used in the right place at the right time.
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Possessives
Follow these rules for forming nouns and pronouns to show possession:
- Add 's to singular nouns not ending in s: the church's members, the girl's parents, Xerox's profits.
- Add 's to singular common nouns ending in s unless the next word begins with s: the bus's engine, the bus' seats, witness's answer, the witness' story.
- Use only an apostrophe for singular proper names ending in s: Drakes' decision. And add only an apostrophe to plural proper names ending in s: the Parkses' home.
- Add 's to plural nouns not ending is s: children's passes, men's bike, women's rights, women's room.
- Add only an apostrophe to plural nouns ending in s: the girls' books, boys' bike, plants' supervisors, families' cars.
- When a plural noun is possessive but each person "owns" only one item, the item should also be listed in plural form. To confirm correctness, rephrase the possessive relationship as an of phrase: the children's brains or the brains of the children; the teachers' hands or the hands of the teachers.
- Follow the rule above (and its test for correctness) when using plural nouns and possessive pronouns: The children became upset when their mothers left the room or the mothers of the children. Gerry and Lena took their dogs for a walk or the dogs of Gerry and Lena.
- When two or more people jointly own an item, put the apostrophe after the noun closest to the item: Gary and Gina's car (they jointly own car), Gary and Gina's cars (they jointly own more than one car). But when two or more people separately own items, put an apostrophe or an 's after each noun: Gary's and Gina's cars.
- When writing about a family in the plural, add s and then an apostrophe: the Abernathys' Christmas greeting (but Bob Abernathy's Christmas greeting).
- Add only an apostrophe to nouns plural in form, singular in meaning: mathematics' rules, United States' wealth.
- Treat nouns that are the same in singular and plural as plurals, even if the meaning is singular: the two deer's tracks. See collective nouns.
Many pronouns have separate forms for the possessive that don't use an apostrophe: yours, ours, his, hers, its, theirs, whose. Use an apostrophe with a pronoun only when the meaning calls for a contraction: you're (you are), it's (it is). Follow the rules listed above in forming the possessives of other pronouns: another's plan, others' plans, one's rights, someone else's umbrella.
Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending in s when using the word as an adjective - describing the following noun. If the prepositions for or by would be more appropriate than the possessive of, do not use an apostrophe: a radio band for citizens, citizens band radio; a guide for writers, a writers guide; a day for veterans, Veterans Day; a union for carpenters, a carpenters union. Add 's, however, when a term involves a plural word that does not end in s: a children's hospital. If you're giving the proper name of an organization or other item, try to respect the style it uses - even if that style differs from these guidelines: the Metropolitan Teacher's Association, The World-Class Speller's Guide.
Follow the rules above for possessive words that occur in such phrases as a day's pay, two weeks' vacation, four years' experience, your money's worth.
Avoid excessive personalization of inanimate objects. Use an of construction instead when appropriate: the rules of mathematics instead of mathematics' rules.
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Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide
What to Know Names are proper nouns, which become plurals the same way that other nouns do: add the letter -s for most names (“the Johnsons,” “the Websters”) or add -es if the name ends in s or z (“the Joneses,” “the Martinezes”). To show possession using an apostrophe, add ’s for individuals (“Smith’s car”) and just the apostrophe after the s for plurals (“the Smiths’ car,” “the Martinezes’ dog”). By convention, names from classical mythology and the Bible ending in s show possession with the apostrophe only (“Jesus’ teachings”).
The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns. They typically get formed by adding -s . Except, that is, if the name already ends in s or z . Then the plural is formed by adding -es .
the Smith clan → the Smiths Jill and Sam Clarence → the Clarences Mr. and Mrs. Jones → the Joneses the Fernandez family → the Fernandezes
"And remember—it's Socrates' deathbed, but Zeus's lovers."
Unlike regular nouns that end in y , names that end in y are also made plural by adding -s :
the Kennedy clan → the Kennedys the Daley family → the Daleys
Possession And Names
If you want to talk about something that belongs to more than one member of a family, you start with the plural form and add an apostrophe to show possession:
the Smiths' car a party at the Fernandezes' house the Daleys' driveway
If you want to talk about something that belongs to a single person being identified by last name, you follow the usual -'s rule for most names:
the car that belongs to Smith → Smith's car
For names that end in an s or z sound, though, you can either add -'s or just an apostrophe. Going with -'s is the more common choice:
the car that belongs to Jones → Jones's car or Jones' car
Special Rules for Classical Names
For classical and biblical names there are other rules. For names ending in s or es and having two or more syllables, you usually just add an apostrophe. If the name is only one syllable, add -'s .
Socrates' students Ramses' kingdom Amos' prophecy Zeus's warnings
The names Jesus and Moses are always made possessive with the apostrophe alone:
Jesus' disciples Moses' law
Silent Ending Letters
The usual way to show possession with a name that ends in a silent s , z , or x is with -'s .
Didier Deschamps's career Josquin des Prez's music Eugène Delacroix's paintings
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How to Use a Possessive Apostrophe
You know possessive apostrophes when you see them, but no matter how simple or common they are, knowing how to use apostrophes correctly can still be tricky. For example, when do you put the apostrophe after s , and when do you put the apostrophe before it? Below, we explain everything you need to know about possessive apostrophes so you can use them with confidence.
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What are possessive apostrophes?
Possessive apostrophes are apostrophes (’) used with the letter s at the end of a noun to show ownership over or a close connection with another noun. For example, if you were talking about the tail of your cat, you can add a possessive apostrophe and an s as punctuation to show which noun is the owner.
My cat ’s tail
Apostrophes are used for more than just the possessive case of nouns; they’re also used for contractions like can’t . Because apostrophes have different uses and specific grammar rules, they account for many common grammar mistakes —so be sure to review the rules on how to use apostrophes in the next section to avoid errors.
How to use apostrophes
Possessive apostrophes come at the end of nouns that show ownership (possession) or a close relationship like among family members or body parts. The “owner” noun always precedes the noun it relates to, but any adjective that describes the second noun goes in between the two nouns.
Ava’s haircut
Ava’s new, stylish, and expensive haircut
If adjectives describe the “owner” noun, they come before it.
the trendsetting Ava’s new haircut
Although that’s fairly simple, the other rules for how to use apostrophes are more complicated. Different types of nouns—singular, plural, compound, pronouns, etc.—each have their own rules.
Possessive apostrophes with singular nouns
The most common use of possessive apostrophes is with singular nouns. In this case, you simply add an apostrophe followed by the letter s .
bicycle’s wheels
Maria’s brother
This applies to all types of singular nouns, including those that end in s or z .
boss’s chair
Rodriguez’s notebook
However, some style formats, such as the Associated Press, omit the extra s in words that end in s or z , using only an apostrophe. If you’re in doubt, be sure to check the style guide your class or company uses.
Possessive apostrophes with plural nouns
Regular plural nouns already add an s to show they’re plural. To make these possessive, you just add an apostrophe after the s at the end of the word; there’s no need to add another s .
Do: students’ demands
Do: players’ lockers
Don’t: students’s demands
Don’t: players’s lockers
Keep in mind that some nouns have an irregular plural form, like children , which is the irregular plural form of child . With irregular plurals, add both an apostrophe and s , as you do with singular nouns.
geese’s eggs
mice’s breakfast
Possessive apostrophes with last names
Proper nouns , including last names, follow the same rules as other nouns. If they’re singular, add an apostrophe and s to the end, even if the name ends with s or z .
Anwuli Okoro’s bathing suit
Charles’s schedule
If they’re plural, treat them as you would other plural nouns and just add an apostrophe after the s .
Jeons’ garden
Suarezes’ family reunion
Possessive apostrophes with two or more nouns
If you have a group of words, where do you add the possessive apostrophe? It depends on whether it’s joint possession or individual possession .
If two or more nouns all own the same thing (joint possession), add a possessive apostrophe only to the last noun in the group. In this case, the noun they own is singular.
father and daughter’s dance
Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s uncle Donald
If two or more nouns each own separate things of the same kind (individual possession), add possessive apostrophes after each noun. Moreover, the noun they own should always be plural.
prosecutor’s and defendant’s speeches
the hospital’s and clinic’s doctors
Possessive apostrophes with hyphenated words and compound nouns
Hyphenated words and other compound nouns are multiple words working together as one. English grammar considers them a single noun, so you add a possessive apostrophe and an s only to the final word in the group.
mother-in-law’s visit
ice cream’s cherry
Possessive apostrophes with noun phrases
A noun phrase is a group of words acting together as a single noun, usually with adjectives and prepositional phrases. Just like with compound nouns, add an apostrophe and s only to the final word.
the freckled kid in the back’s T-shirt
However, this can get confusing if the noun phrase is too long. It’s often better to reword the sentence, showing possession with the preposition of rather than with a possessive apostrophe.
the T-shirt of the freckled kid in the back
Possessive apostrophes with indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are a little more difficult because some of them use possessive apostrophes and some don’t. Below are lists showing which do and which don’t.
Indefinite pronouns that use possessive apostrophes
- everybody’s
Indefinite pronouns that do not use possessive apostrophes
When not to use possessive apostrophes
Buildings and furniture.
Usually when talking about buildings, furniture, and sometimes inanimate objects, you don’t need possessive apostrophes at all. In these situations, the noun of ownership is more like an adjective than a noun, so you don’t need to add any extra punctuation or an s .
the hotel pool
the office basement
the table legs
In most cases adding a possessive apostrophe to a year is a mistake. An exception is if you’re indicating that the year or years are possessive.
- She lived in Algeria in the early 1700s.
- The 1930s saw a downturn in the economy.
- The late 90’s embrace of SUVs changed the car market.
- It was 2022’s biggest news story.
Pronouns may take the place of nouns, but they have their own rules when it comes to possessives.
Basically, there are two ways pronouns show possession. First, possessive pronouns like mine or yours act as standalone nouns, often replacing nouns that were already mentioned.
The neighbor’s grass is greener than mine .
That partner of yours is a bad influence.
Second, you can use possessive adjectives like my or your . Possessive adjectives come before the noun they relate to, just like other adjectives.
My dream is to stay in bed all day.
I’m terrified of their parrot.
The important thing to remember is don’t use possessive apostrophes with any pronouns , either possessive pronouns or possessive adjectives.
her’s sweater
her sweater
sweater of hers’
sweater of her’s
sweater of hers
If you see an apostrophe with a pronoun, it must be part of a contraction.
its —possessive adjective of it
it’s —contraction for “it is”
Possessive apostrophe FAQs
Possessive apostrophes are apostrophes (’) used with the letter s at the end of a noun to show ownership over or a close connection with another noun. For example, if you were talking about the tail of your cat, you could say cat’s tail .
How do you use possessive apostrophes?
For singular nouns and irregular plural nouns, add an apostrophe and the letter s after the word. Regular plural nouns already end in s , so simply add an apostrophe after s . Those are the basics, but there are more complicated grammar rules for other types of nouns.
When should you not use a possessive apostrophe?
Do not use possessive apostrophes with pronouns, which have their own unique possessive forms. Likewise, don’t use possessive apostrophes with buildings or furniture. In these cases, the noun of ownership functions more as an adjective than as a noun, such as in hotel pool or chair leg .
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- Possessive Pronouns | Examples, Definition & List
Possessive Pronouns | Examples, Definition & List
Published on January 20, 2023 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on May 8, 2023.
Possessive pronouns are pronouns that are used to indicate the ownership (possession) of something or someone by something or someone else. The English possessive pronouns are mine , ours , yours , his , hers , theirs , and whose .
Possessive pronouns are closely related to possessive determiners , which are used differently since they appear before a noun instead of replacing it. The possessive determiners are my , our , your , his , her , its , their , and whose .
Table of contents
How are possessive pronouns used in sentences, possessive pronouns vs. determiners, its vs. it’s, frequently asked questions.
Possessive pronouns are used in place of nouns to make statements about ownership more concisely, without needing to repeat the nouns representing the owner and the possession:
- Randall says that the pencil case is Randall’s pencil case .
- Randall says that the pencil case is his .
“Possession” in the context of possessive pronouns and determiners can mean literal ownership of something (e.g., a book, a company), but it can also indicate more figurative kinds of possession, such as the possession of a relationship with someone or some place.
I want to be yours forever. Will you marry me?
He really missed his hometown.
Agreement with the antecedent
The antecedent of a possessive pronoun is the person or thing that possesses what- or whomever is being referred to. For example, in the statement “Diana says that the car is hers,” the antecedent of “hers” is “Diana,” the owner of the car.
The possessive pronoun (or determiner) must show correct pronoun-antecedent agreement in person, gender, and number. The possessive pronoun “hers,” for example, is feminine (because Diana is female), third-person (because the speaker is not Diana and is not addressing her directly), and singular (because Diana is one person).
I like my car, but I wish my parents would let me drive theirs sometimes.
Subject-verb agreement
Because of the rules of subject-verb agreement , any possessive pronoun that is used as the subject of a sentence can be followed by either a singular or a plural verb form depending on whether what it refers to (i.e., the thing possessed, not the possessor) is singular or plural.
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Possessive pronouns and possessive determiners are closely related and sometimes identical in spelling, but they play different grammatical roles.
- Possessive pronouns always stand on their own, not modifying a noun but replacing one.
- Possessive determiners (sometimes called possessive adjectives ) instead modify a noun that comes after them.
Because possessive pronouns don’t allow you to specify what the possession in question is, you should use them only when this is already clear from the context. Otherwise, use a possessive determiner followed by a noun specifying the identity of the possession.
- Once each participant had finished theirs , they could move on to the next task.
- Once each participant had finished their questionnaire , they could move on to the next task.
Its and it’s are commonly confused, but they have quite different meanings.
- Its is the correct spelling of the possessive determiner used to indicate something belonging to an animal or thing.
- It’s is a shortening of the phrase “it is” or “it has.” The apostrophe is used to indicate that it’s a contraction—not to indicate possession.
It’s best to get a good night’s sleep before your exam. Tip The same confusion sometimes occurs between who’s and whose . Again, the spelling with the apostrophe is a contraction (of “who is” or “who has”), while the spelling with no apostrophe is the possessive.
Unlike the other possessives, whose is not classed as a personal pronoun but as an interrogative pronoun or a relative pronoun . It can also be used as an interrogative or relative determiner .
- Interrogative pronouns and determiners introduce a direct or indirect question.
- Relative pronouns and determiners introduce a relative clause that provides more information about a noun phrase.
I wonder whose entry will win the competition.
The man whose dog was reported lost last week still hasn’t been reunited with it.
A possessive pronoun is a pronoun used to indicate indicate ownership (e.g., “This hat is mine ”). The English possessive pronouns are mine , ours , yours , his , hers , theirs , and whose .
A possessive pronoun stands on its own, replacing a noun phrase (e.g., in “Jessie says this chair is hers ,” “hers” replaces “Jessie’s chair”).
They should not be confused with possessive determiners , which instead appear before a noun, modifying it (e.g., “this is her chair”). The possessive determiners are my , our , your , his , her , its , their , and whose .
My is usually classed as a possessive determine r (or possessive adjective ): a word that indicates possession (telling you whom or what something or someone belongs to) by modifying the following noun (e.g., “ my cat”).
It’s normally not considered a pronoun because it doesn’t stand alone in place of a noun . But it is closely related to the possessive pronoun mine , and some grammars class my and other possessive determiners as “weak possessive pronouns.”
However, it’s more useful to define my as a determiner, because this more accurately describes its role in a sentence.
Our is usually classed as a possessive determiner (or possessive adjective ): a word that indicates possession (telling you whom or what something or someone belongs to) by modifying the following noun (e.g., “ our grandmother”).
It’s normally not considered a pronoun because it doesn’t stand alone in place of a noun. But it is closely related to the possessive pronoun ours , and some grammars class our and other possessive determiners as “weak possessive pronouns.”
However, it’s more useful to define our as a determiner, because this more accurately describes its role in a sentence.
Sources in this article
We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.
Caulfield, J. (2023, May 08). Possessive Pronouns | Examples, Definition & List. Scribbr. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/nouns-and-pronouns/possessive-pronouns/
Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.
Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Garner, B. A. (2016). Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
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Apostrophes
Apostrophes are a punctuation mark that indicates contractions (omission of letters) or possession.
Explanation
The apostrophe seems to be a mysterious mark for writers. You probably learned about it in grade school but may think of it as “that little floaty comma thing.” The apostrophe is not difficult to master. Let’s look at its uses.
- Use the apostrophe to show omitted letters in CONTRACTIONS .
isn’t = is not don’t = do not won’t = will not couldn’t = could not he’s = he is
- Use the apostrophe to show POSSESSION. This is a little trickier because some English words don’t have “normal” plural forms. Singular nouns are easy; just add ’s to the word.
Mary’s coat a businessperson’s lunch the librarian’s chair today’s college students the cat’s meow
- Singular nouns can also be made possessive with the word of preceding.
the poems of Mary Oliver the music of Raphael Saadiq the work of a day the novels of Amy Tan
- It is often better to use an of phrase to show ownership when referring to inanimate objects: the top of the desk.
- The possessives of plural nouns come in two types:
If the plural already ends in s, add ’ after the s:
three boys’ lunches five students’ essays English teachers’ classes all computer operators’ skills
If the plural does not end in s , add ’s to the word:
women’s books children’s toys men’s phones people’s habits
- Do not confuse the plural with the possessive word . Remember it’s the owner or possessor, not the object being possessed, that gets the apostrophe mark.
the cat’s claws NOT the cats claw’s the players’ uniforms NOT the players uniforms’
- It’s is not a possessive ; it’s a contraction of it and is .
- Its is the possessive pronoun ; compare to theirs and hers and his (no apostrophes).
The dog gnawed its (possessive) bone. I want a Porsche; its (possessive) styling is superb. However: It’s (contraction of it + is ) going to be a long day.
Common Questions
Indefinite pronouns.
Some indefinite pronouns form the possessive in the same manner as singular nouns: another's, nobody's, one’s, everybody's, and so on. Some indefinite pronouns can be made possessive only in the of form: the future of each, the opinions of all, etc., never each's or all's.
Compound Possessives
In "joint ownership" compound possessives, only the final name takes the possessive form: Peron, Lugo, and Nguyen’s anthology. If the ownership is separate, BOTH NAMES take the possessive form: Dakota’s and Erin’s cameras.
Singular Nouns
If a singular noun ends with an s , it is made possessive the same way as any other singular noun.
Mr. Jones's new car the business’s customers the girl’s bike the campus’s location
However, when a singular noun has more than one syllable, ends with an s , and would be difficult to pronounce with the additional s , the s after the ’ is optional.
the scissors’ handle Bill Withers’ songs
Whether you add the extra s or not is up to you. Just be consistent throughout your writing.
Here is a print-friendly version of this content .
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are those designating possession. They may also be used as substitutes for noun phrases, and they are typically found at the end of a sentence or clause. There are only a few possessive pronouns in the English language, and there are only two specific rules for using them correctly. Keep these rules in mind when using possessive pronouns, and you’ll discover that writing properly is easier.
We use possessive pronouns to refer to a specific person/people or thing/things (the "antecedent") belonging to a person/people (and sometimes belonging to an animal/animals or thing/things).
We use possessive pronouns depending on:
- number: singular (eg: mine ) or plural (eg: ours )
- person: 1st person (eg: mine ), 2nd person (eg: yours ) or 3rd person (eg: his )
- gender: male ( his ), female ( hers )
Below are the possessive pronouns, followed by some example sentences. Notice that each possessive pronoun can:
- be subject or object
- refer to a singular or plural antecedent
- Look at these pictures. Mine is the big one. (subject = My picture)
- I like your flowers. Do you like mine ? (object = my flowers)
- I looked everywhere for your key. I found John's key but I couldn't find yours . (object = your key)
- My flowers are dying. Yours are lovely. (subject = Your flowers)
- All the essays were good but his was the best. (subject = his essay)
- John found his passport but Mary couldn't find hers . (object = her passport)
- John found his clothes but Mary couldn't find hers . (object = her clothes)
- Here is your car. Ours is over there, where we left it. (subject = Our car)
- Your photos are good. Ours are terrible. (subject = Our photos)
- Each couple's books are colour-coded. Yours are red. (subject = Your books)
- I don't like this family's garden but I like yours . (object = your garden)
- These aren't John and Mary's children. Theirs have black hair. (subject = Their children)
- John and Mary don't like your car. Do you like theirs ? (object = their car)
Notice that the interrogative pronoun whose can also be a possessive pronoun (an interrogative possessive pronoun). Look at these examples:
- There was $100 on the table and Tara wondered whose it was.
- This car hasn't moved for two months. Whose is it?
Course Curriculum
- Personal pronouns 15 mins
- Demonstrative pronouns 20 mins
- Indefinite pronouns 15 mins
- Relative Pronouns 20 mins
- Reciprocal pronouns 15 mins
- Possessive Pronouns 20 mins
- Interrogative Pronouns 15 mins
- Reflexive Pronouns 15 mins
Essay Plural, What is the Plural of Essay?
Meaning: a short piece of writing on a particular subject.
Table of Contents
Plural of Essay
- dissertation
Essay as a Singular Noun in Example Sentences:
- She submitted her essay before the deadline.
- The student received an A+ on his essay .
- The teacher assigned a persuasive essay for the assignment.
- He spent hours researching and writing the essay .
- The essay explored the theme of identity in literature.
- The scholarship required a well-written essay on a specific topic.
- The university professor provided feedback on the essay .
- The essay was published in a renowned academic journal.
Essay as a Plural Noun in Example Sentences:
- The students submitted their essays for grading.
- The conference received numerous essays from scholars around the world.
- The collection of essays covered a wide range of topics.
- The professor assigned weekly essays to encourage critical thinking.
- The finalists presented their essays in front of the audience.
- The anthology included essays from various renowned authors.
- The competition aimed to recognize outstanding essays on social issues.
- The workshop focused on refining students’ persuasive essays .
Singular Possessive of Essay:
The singular possessive form of “Essay” is “Essay’s”.
Examples of Singular Possessive Form of Essay:
- I need to read Essay’s conclusion.
- The topic of Essay’s first paragraph is intriguing.
- Have you seen Essay’s thesis statement?
- I appreciate Essay’s insightful analysis.
- The structure of Essay’s body paragraphs is clear.
- Essay’s introduction captures the reader’s attention.
- I admire Essay’s coherent argumentation.
- Essay’s conclusion summarizes the main points.
- Can you provide me with Essay’s bibliography?
- The evidence in Essay’s supporting paragraphs is compelling.
Plural Possessive of Essay:
The plural possessive form of “Essay” is “Essays'”.
Examples of Plural Possessive Form of Essay:
- I need to read the Essays’ conclusions.
- The topics of the Essays’ first paragraphs are diverse.
- Have you seen the Essays’ thesis statements?
- I appreciate the Essays’ insightful analyses.
- The structures of the Essays’ body paragraphs are well-organized.
- The Essays’ introductions engage the readers effectively.
- I admire the Essays’ coherent argumentations.
- The Essays’ conclusions summarize the main points eloquently.
- Can you provide me with the Essays’ bibliographies?
- The evidence in the Essays’ supporting paragraphs is substantial.
Explore Related Nouns:
- Complete List of Singular Plurals
Last updated on June 9th, 2023 at 09:23 pm
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Rule #1: Plurals Ending in -S. Almost all the plural words end in an -s. To make a plural noun possessive, you add an apostrophe after the -s. For example: Friends' notes - notes belonging to friends. Teachers' lesson plans - lesson plans written by teachers. My sons' weekend jobs - The weekend jobs my sons have.
A possessive noun is a noun that shows ownership, usually identified by 's.For example, in the phrase the student's notes, the word student's is a possessive noun, showing that the notes belong to the student.. Some parts of possessive nouns can be confusing, such as how to make a noun ending in s possessive, or what the correct possessive form of plural nouns is.
Possessive forms of singular nouns. The possessive case of most singular nouns, whether common or proper, is formed by adding - 's to the end. See the following examples: This is Mary and her dog. The dog is Mary's pet; Mary is not the dog's pet. This thick curtain is capable of shutting out the summer sun's heat and light.
A plural possessive noun is a plural noun that owns something. Yes, this means oftentimes there's an apostrophe after the "s" in their case, unless the noun is irregular. ... Have you graded the students' essays? Add an Apostrophe and "s" to Irregular Plural Nouns.
Plurals are nouns and pronouns that refer to more than one thing. Possessives are nouns and pronouns that show possession. There are similarities and differences in how plurals and possessives are formed that can cause confusion. In particular, confusion can arise over when to use or not use apostrophes. Incorrect:
Possessive Noun | Examples, Definition & Worksheet. Published on February 13, 2023 by Jack Caulfield.Revised on October 3, 2023. A possessive noun is the special form of a noun that's used to indicate ownership (possession). The possessive noun represents the owner (possessor) of something and usually comes right before another noun representing what they own (e.g., "Jeremy's car").
A plural possessive noun is a plural noun that indicates ownership of something. Example. The dog's food is in the bag on the floor. (singular possessive: one dog) The dogs' food is in the bag on the floor. ( plural possessive: multiple dogs) In the two sentences, the nouns dog and dogs are neither the subjects nor the objects.
Plural possessives indicate when there is more than one of a noun and show ownership of something. The possessive of most plural nouns is formed by adding an apostrophe only: Alice had two kittens. When they were playing in the kitchen, the kittens' toy went under the refrigerator. An exception to this rule is the possessive of plural nouns ...
The possessive case shows the relationship of a noun to other words in a sentence. The relationship can be possession, ownership, or another form of association. In general, to form the singular possessive case of a noun, add an apostrophe "s" to the end of the noun. Both common and proper nouns follow the same principle.
Making plural words possessive can be confusing at times because we so often add an s to a noun to make it plural. All of those s 's can be a little overwhelming. But the rules are pretty clear on this issue. To make plural nouns that do not end in s possessive, add 's. To make plural nouns that end in s possessive, add just the '.
Form the possessive of plural nouns that end in an -s or an -s sound by adding only the apostrophe. To make a word plural and possessive, form the plural first, then add an apostrophe. To show joint ownership, form the possessive on the last word; to show individual ownership, form the possessive on both words.
2. Plural Nouns: When a plural noun is the possessor, only an apostrophe is added to the end of the word. For example: The dogs' bones; The students' books; The companies' profits; 3. Proper Nouns Ending in "s": When a proper noun ends in "s," you have the option to either add an apostrophe followed by an "s" or simply an ...
Add 's to plural nouns not ending is s: children's passes, men's bike, women's rights, women's room. Add only an apostrophe to plural nouns ending in s: the girls' books, boys' bike, plants' supervisors, families' cars. When a plural noun is possessive but each person "owns" only one item, the item should also be listed in plural form.
In other words, if the plural form of the noun ends in -s, then the plural possessive form will only use an apostrophe. ⇒ Irregular plural nouns are made possessive by adding 's onto the word Irregular plural nouns (such as geese) change form rather than adding an -s to make them plural. Thus, we treat them like singular nouns when ...
By convention, names from classical mythology and the Bible ending in s show possession with the apostrophe only ("Jesus' teachings"). The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns. They typically get formed by adding -s. Except, that is, if the name already ends in s or z. Then the plural is formed by adding -es.
A possessive noun is a noun like "farmer's" that is used to indicate ownership (possession). It normally comes before another noun that indicates the thing possessed (e.g., "the farmer's pitchfork"). Possessive nouns are formed from regular nouns by adding an apostrophe followed by an "s," or, in the case of plural nouns that already end in "s," by just adding an apostrophe.
Possessive apostrophes with plural nouns. Regular plural nouns already add an s to show they're plural. To make these possessive, you just add an apostrophe after the s at the end of the word; there's no need to add another s. Do: students' demands. Do: players' lockers. Don't: students's demands. Don't: players's lockers
Revised on May 8, 2023. Possessive pronouns are pronouns that are used to indicate the ownership (possession) of something or someone by something or someone else. The English possessive pronouns are mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs, and whose. Possessive pronouns are closely related to possessive determiners, which are used differently ...
five students' essays English teachers' classes all computer operators' skills If the plural does not end in s, add 's to the word: women's books children's toys men's phones people's habits Do not confuse the plural with the possessive word. Remember it's the owner or possessor, not the object being possessed, that gets the ...
For example: I like my coffee white. The white coffee is mine. In the first sentence, my is a possessive adjective, modifying the noun coffee. But in the second sentence, mine is a possessive pronoun that refers to my white coffee. Here's a list of possessive adjectives and their corresponding possessive pronouns.
We use possessive pronouns to refer to a specific person/people or thing/things (the "antecedent") belonging to a person/people (and sometimes belonging to an animal/animals or thing/things). We use possessive pronouns depending on: number: singular (eg: mine) or plural (eg: ours) person: 1st person (eg: mine ), 2nd person (eg: yours) or 3rd ...
The plural possessive form of "Essay" is "Essays'". Examples of Plural Possessive Form of Essay: I need to read the Essays' conclusions. The topics of the Essays' first paragraphs are diverse. Have you seen the Essays' thesis statements? I appreciate the Essays' insightful analyses. The structures of the Essays' body ...
Possessive pronouns in English are words like mine, your, her and their. Learn about possessive pronouns in Spanish with BBC Bitesize Spanish. For students between the ages of 14 and 16.
Using Apostrophes to Make Words Possessive. Beginning writers sometimes mistakenly add apostrophes to make words plural, but this is not how the apostrophe is used; the apostrophe is used to show possession or ownership. Here's a test you can use to determine whether an apostrophe is needed—we call it the " of " test.
Possessive adjectives close possessive adjectiveAdjectives that show ownership, eg my, your, his, our. They are placed before a noun, eg my book, your jacket. show whom something or someone ...