Understanding possessive nouns: the basics

The possessive noun is employed to demonstrate the ownership or relation between individuals, locations, or objects. To learn more about this grammar concept, we recommend checking the rules for possessive pronouns.

If you have doubts about how to form plural possessives, the apostrophe (’) is employed for the same purpose. For instance,

  The teacher’s desk is next to the window — It means that the desk belongs to a single teacher.
understanding possessive nouns understanding possessive nouns 1

It is crucial to memorize these grammar rules that possession does not always entail ownership but can also indicate associations or relationships. For example, “the company’s policy” and “today’s meeting” both contain possessives. Gaining this knowledge will help you tackle more difficult examples in the future, particularly with plural nouns.

Singular vs. plural possessives

When comparing singular vs. plural possessive nouns, the number of owners is considered. A singular possessive noun indicates that there is only one owner. Examples include:

  The student’s phone is on the table.
  We can’t drive this Toyota. It is my brother’s car.

The plural possessive noun indicates that multiple people own the object. When the plural form ends in -s, place the apostrophe after the “s”:

  The chefs’ knives were lined up on the table.
  The children’s playground is full of colorful slides.
  The writer’s idea changed the story.
  The writers’ ideas turned the project into something new.

Though these words may be said to have a resemblance in pronunciation, their correct spelling is important. Being proficient in using possessive plurals will help you communicate your thoughts effectively.

The core rules for plural possessive nouns

In order to be able to deal effectively with plural nouns in English, one may want to refer to an easy algorithm. The first thing you have to do is find out whether your noun is plural. You have to establish how its plural form is formed because it helps to understand how to put an apostrophe. To understand this process better, one should categorize nouns.

If you need a refresher before continuing, you are able to review pronouns in English to strengthen your foundation.

Regular plural nouns ending in “-s”

In case of a common noun ending in “-s,” all you have to do is place the apostrophe after -s. No additional “s” should be added to the word. This apostrophe rule applies to all nouns ending with -s.

  The dogs’ collars were all different colors.
regular plural nouns ending in s regular plural nouns ending in s 1
  The players’ uniforms were cleaned after the match.
  The neighbors’ projects were decorated for the holiday.
Tip: 

If the plural already ends in -s, just add an apostrophe.

Irregular plural nouns not ending in “-s”

Irregular plural possessive nouns do not have the letter “s” at the end of the plural noun. In that case, an apostrophe followed by “s” (’s) should be added. A comparison table of common terms is shown below:

Singular

Plural

Plural possessive
  child
  children
  children’s
  man
  men
  men’s
  woman
  women
  women’s
  person
  people
  people’s
  mouse
  mice
  mice’s

Here is how it works in real-world sentences:

  The men’s jackets are hanging by the door.
  The people’svoices were finally heard.
Tip: 

If the plural does not end in -s, add “‘s.”

Advanced rules and tricky cases

There are some tricky samples of possession that can cause difficulties for many students. In such situations, there is a combination of rules related to the structure, semantics, and peculiarities of English spelling.

Joint vs. separate possession

The idea of joint possession is contingent on how people hold ownership and it can be seen here:

  Tom and Jerry’s house → one house for both of them.
  Tom’s and Jerry’s house → separate houses.

Let’s see examples of plural possessive nouns through more sentences:

  Anna and Kate’s project was successful → their common project.
  Anna’s and Kate’s project was successful → detached projects.
Tip: 

One apostrophe means shared, and one is for separate.

Hyphenated and compound nouns

As for the punctuation marks for these cases, here is only one rule: the apostrophe is added ot the man word (usually the last element):

  My mother-in-law’s advice helped me a lot.
  The editor-in-chief’s decision surprised everyone.
  The sister-in-law’sdresses matched perfectly.
Tip: 

Focus on the core noun, not the modifiers.

Last names and families

Here are a few steps English learners need to take to show possession for a whole family:

  • Make the name plural
  Smith → the Smiths.
  • Add apostrophe
  The Smiths’ house is cozy.

Before moving on, it is preferable to check yourself with the quick interactive possessive pronouns test to reinforce how possessive forms work.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

In the case of plurals, there are numerous mistakes that result from the misuse of punctuation symbols such as the apostrophe. Below are the most common mistakes, together with their illustrations.

  • Confusing plural and possessive forms

Some students mix them up because of the similarity we considered in the section above. Here are some samples:

Mistake Correct
  The boys’ PlayStation is missing.
  The boys PlayStation is missing.
  The teachers’ room is closed.
  The teachers room is closed.
  • Adding -s to regular plurals

If you see that the word — plural — already has this ending, you just need to leave it as it is. The reason why we usually add the letter s in most cases when forming plurals in English is that this suffix denotes “more than one. Now, it is simplified.

Mistake Correct
  The dancers’ costumes sparkled under the lights.
  The dancers’s costumes sparkled under the lights.
  All the cats’ tails moved at the same time.
  All the cats’s tails moved at the same time.
  • Misplacing apostrophes in names and families

One thing that causes students to make errors while using family names in their writing is the fact that English joins the two processes of pluralization and possession into one, and both influence apostrophe usage.

Mistake Correct
  The Browns’ garden is full of roses.
  The Brown’s garden is full of roses.
  The Taylors’ living room was filled with balloons.
  The Taylors living room was filled with balloons.

Plural possessive rules are all about knowing when and how to form plurals and add apostrophes. It is much simpler if you make sure that you know which is which before trying to do both at once.

By using typical sentence structures and observing minute aspects such as apostrophes, it is possible to prevent errors and write confidently. As a result, one gets accustomed to writing, and he or she learns how to express possession correctly in English language.

Conclusion

Once you understand the basic rule of using a plural possessive noun, everything falls into place. The regulation states that everything will depend on the letter ‘s’ at the end of the noun. If the plural noun ends with the letter “s,” just put the apostrophe after it.

The more you practice these expressions, the more comfortable you will be when using them in your written or spoken English. In order to continue developing your language skills, visit other articles on our website and improve your grammar knowledge gradually. Besides, you can try taking a brief test to see how well you understand these guidelines.

FAQ

Where does the apostrophe go in plural nouns ending in “s”?

When the regular noun is a plural that ends in -s, then the apostrophe should be put after the -s. Do not add an additional -s to the word. An example of this is “teachers’ lounge,” where the “lounge” is owned by more than one teacher.

What is the difference between “boss’s”, “bosses,” and “bosses’”?

Here is a simple explanation of how apostrophe placement changes meaning:

Boss’s is a singular possessive (one boss owns something).

Bosses is just the plural form meaning more than one boss.

Bosses’ is a plural possessive, showing that something belongs to multiple bosses.

How do you form the plural possessive of a family name, like “Smith”?

First, pluralize the family name: “Smiths” (meaning the entire family). Second, place an apostrophe after the “s”: “Smiths’.” For instance, “the Smiths’ house” means the house of the Smith family. An apostrophe should not be added before the pluralization of the name.

Is it “women’s” or “womens’”?

This should be written as “women’s” since women is already a special plural noun. Because this doesn’t have an -s at the end, you should use the rule of adding an apostrophe plus s for possession. This makes “womens’” incorrect.