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General Rules for Making POSSESSIVE NOUNS
RULE ONE: Most words simply get apostrophe S ('s).
EXAMPLES:
the box belonging to
Steve
->
Steve's box
the bedroom of the
child
-> the
child's bedroom
YOUR TURN: Type in the correct word for each blank.
the house belonging to
Julie
->
1. That is
house.
the name of the
cat
->
2. My
name is Maggie.
the car belonging to my
friend
->
3. My
car is blue.
the newspaper from
yesterday
->
4. Did you read
newspaper?
RULE TWO: Plural nouns ending in S simply get an apostrophe (s').
EXAMPLES:
the box belonging to the
girls
-> the
girls' box
the bedroom of the
kids
-> the
kids' bedroom
YOUR TURN: Type in the correct word for each blank.
the restroom for
ladies
->
5. Where is the
restroom?
the cars belonging to my
friends
->
6. I saw my
cars in the parking lot.
the tests taken by the
students
->
7. The teacher will return the
tests after lunch.
RULE THREE: For irregular plurals (not ending in S), add apostrophe S ('s).
EXAMPLES:
the coats of the
women
-> the
women's coats
the jackets of the
children
-> the
children's jackets
YOUR TURN: Type in the correct word for each blank.
the restroom for
men
->
8. Where is the
restroom?
the choice of the
people
->
9. Vote for this candidate. He is the
choice.
the tracks of the
geese
->
10. It was easy to follow the
tracks in the snow.
RULE FOUR: For names ending in S, add apostrophe S ('s).
EXAMPLES:
the cat belonging to
Charles
->
Charles's cat
the jacket of the
Phyllis
->
Phyllis's jackets
YOUR TURN: Type in the correct word for each blank.
the house belonging to
Mr. Janus
->
11. Where is
house?
the shoes belonging to
Curtis
->
12. Those are
shoes.
the sister of
Ross
->
13. Monica is
sister.
ALTERNATE
RULE FOUR: For names ending in S, simply add an apostrophe (s').
EXAMPLES:
the cat belonging to
Charles
->
Charles' cat
the jacket of the
Phyllis
->
Phyllis' jackets
YOUR TURN: Type in the correct word for each blank.
the book belonging to
Ulysses
->
14. That is
book.
the desk belonging to
Doris
->
15. I sit next to
desk.
the mother of
Francis
->
16. Do you know where
mother lives?
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1. Julie's
2. cat's
3. friend's
4. yesterday's
5. ladies'
6. friends'
7. students'
8. men's
9. people's
10. geese's
11. Mr. Janus's
12. Curtis's
13. Ross's
14. Ulysses'
15. Doris'
16. Francis'
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