Possessives Nouns Exercises and Examples

Possessive Nouns Exercises

These exercises focus on possessive nouns.

TLDR

1️⃣ Singular nouns → Add ’s (The cat’s toy).
2️⃣ Plural nouns ending in -s → Add ’ (The teachers’ room).
3️⃣ Irregular plural nouns → Add ’s (Children’s books).

What Are Possessive Nouns?

A possessive noun shows ownership or belonging. In English, we use an apostrophe (') and sometimes -s to indicate that something belongs to someone or something.

For example:

John’s book → (The book belongs to John.)
The dog’s bone → (The bone belongs to the dog.)

Possessive nouns help us avoid long phrases and make sentences clearer.

Rules for Forming Possessive Nouns

1. Singular Nouns → Add ‘s

For most singular nouns, add ’s to show possession.

Singular Noun	Possessive Form	Example
John	John's	This is John's car.
The cat	The cat’s	The cat’s tail is fluffy.
A girl	A girl’s	A girl’s hat is on the table.

2. Plural Nouns Ending in -s → Add Only ‘

If a noun is plural and already ends in -s, just add an apostrophe (').

Plural Noun	Possessive Form	Example
Parents	Parents’	My parents’ house is big.
Students	Students’	The students’ classroom is noisy.
Teachers	Teachers’	The teachers’ lounge is upstairs.

3. Irregular Plural Nouns → Add ‘s

Some plural nouns do not end in -s (e.g., men, women, children). For these, add ’s like singular nouns.

Irregular Plural Noun	Possessive Form	Example
Men	Men’s	These are men’s shoes.
Women	Women’s	The women’s team won.
Children	Children’s	Children’s books are fun.
People	People’s	People’s opinions matter.

Using Possessive Nouns in Sentences

1️⃣ With Singular Nouns:

This is Sarah’s phone.
The cat’s bowl is empty.

2️⃣ With Plural Nouns Ending in -s:

My parents’ car is new.
The players’ uniforms are blue.

3️⃣ With Irregular Plural Nouns:

The children’s toys are everywhere.
Women’s rights are important.

Possessive Nouns vs. Plural Nouns

Be careful! Possessive nouns and plural nouns are different.

Word Type	Example	Meaning
Plural	The teachers are in class.	More than one teacher (no possession).
Possessive	The teacher’s book is new.	The book belongs to the teacher.
Possessive Plural	The teachers’ books are new.	The books belong to multiple teachers.

✅ Tip: If a noun shows ownership, use an apostrophe!

Avoiding Repetition with Possessive Nouns

Possessive nouns help avoid repeating words.

❌ Repetitive:

Is that John’s car?
No, it’s Mary’s car.

✅ Better with a Possessive Noun:

Is that John’s car?
No, it’s Mary’s. (No need to repeat car.)

Other examples:

Whose bag is this? → It’s my sister’s.
This is my brother’s jacket, not my dad’s.

Common Mistakes with Possessive Nouns

❌ Forgetting the apostrophe

Wrong: The dogs bone is missing.
Right: The dog’s bone is missing.

❌ Adding ‘s to plural nouns ending in -s

Wrong: The girls’s toys are on the floor.
Right: The girls’ toys are on the floor.

❌ Using an apostrophe for normal plurals

Wrong: I have two cat’s. (❌ Cat’s = belongs to the cat.)
Right: I have two cats. (✔ No possession, just two cats.)

FAQ

What is a possessive noun?

A possessive noun shows ownership using an apostrophe (‘) and sometimes an -s.

How do I form a possessive noun for singular words?

Add ’s → The dog’s leash, Mary’s book, the baby’s toy.

What if the noun is plural and already ends in -s?

Just add ’ → The teachers’ lounge, the players’ locker room.

What about irregular plural nouns?

Add ’s → Men’s shoes, children’s books, women’s clothing.

Can I use a possessive noun without repeating the object?

Yes! Example:

Is this Jack’s phone? → No, it’s Tom’s. (No need to say Tom’s phone.)