Possessive Nouns Words that show ownership are called

Possessive Nouns

Words that show ownership are called possessive nouns. A noun is possessive if a phrase can be changed to say that an item or idea belongs to someone else. Example: The paintbrush that belonged to the artist was lost. The artist’s paintbrush was lost.

Possessive nouns are used to show that someone owns something. Noun Pam Possessive Pam’s cat the cat’s tail Sam’s knee An apostrophe (') is used to show the ownership.

Rule To show the possessive form of singular nouns add 's. Examples: Fluffy Sally the man the teacher Fluffy’s tail Sally’s recipe the man’s hat the teacher’s pencil

The possessive form can also show a feature or characteristic. Examples: river train sun river’s edge train’s wheels sun’s heat

Rules 1. To show possession of singular nouns add 's. 2. To show possession of plural nouns ending in s add an apostrophe ('). Examples: runners => runners' shoes cows => cows' meal trees => trees' apples

To show possession of plural nouns NOT ending in s add an apostrophe and a s (‘s). children => children’s food teeth => teeth’s fillings

If the plural ends in s just add an apostrophe. If the plural does not end in s add an apostrophe and an s. 1 person 1 item 2 people 2 items the boy’s jacket the boys’ jackets my parent’s car my parents’ cars my boss’s hat my bosses’ hats the woman’s dress the child’s toy the women’s dresses the children’s toys the passerby’s glance the passersby’s glances

the kid’s bike (I kid, 1 bike) the kids’ bike (2 kids, 1 bike) the kids’ bikes (2 kids, 2 bikes)