A possessive noun shows ownership or a close relationship. Here's how to form them:
Singular Nouns:
- Add an apostrophe and an "s" to the end of the noun.
- Examples: dog's bone, Sarah's car, the company's profits
Plural Nouns Ending in "s":
- Add only an apostrophe after the "s".
- Examples: dogs' bones, students' desks, the Smiths' house
Plural Nouns Not Ending in "s":
- Add an apostrophe and an "s".
- Examples: children's toys, women's rights, men's restroom
Exceptions:
- Singular nouns ending in "s" can be tricky. Some style guides recommend adding only an apostrophe (e.g., "Jesus' teachings"), while others prefer adding an apostrophe and an "s" (e.g., "Jesus's teachings"). Choose a style and be consistent.
- Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) don't use apostrophes.
Examples in sentences:
- The dog's bark was loud.
- My parents' anniversary is next week.
- The children's laughter filled the room.
- Have you seen Chris's new motorcycle?
Possessive nouns can sometimes be replaced by "of" phrases (e.g., "the dog's bone" can also be "the bone of the dog"), but possessives often sound more natural and concise.
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