Plural possessive nouns show ownership by more than one person, place, or thing. How do you form a plural possessive? Add an apostrophe after the “s” in regular plurals. Use an apostrophe and “s” for irregular plurals. Plural possessive nouns show who owns what in a sentence. They distinguish joint from individual ownership.
Plural Possessive Nouns: Definition, Examples, & Use
Recognizing the Difference Between Singular and Plural Possession
You might be wondering, “What’s the difference between singular and plural possessive nouns”? Well, here’s a quick break down of the differences between the two. It’s pretty straightforward, but let’s make sure it’s clear to you.
Singular Possessive Nouns
A singular possessive noun shows that one thing owns something. It can be a person, place, or thing. How do you form a singular possessive? You’re going to add an apostrophe followed by an “s” to the end of the noun.
Examples:
- The cat’s toy is hidden under the couch.
- Sarah’s new book is a bestseller.
- The tree’s leaves turned golden in autumn.
Plural Possessive Nouns
But, a plural possessive noun shows that many people, places, or things own something. How do you form a plural possessive noun? The formation of plural possessives depends on whether the plural noun ends in “s” or not.
Examples:
- The students’ projects were showcased at the science fair.
- The mice’s tiny footprints were scattered across the floor.
- The children’s laughter filled the playground.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake is confusing possessive nouns with plurals. A plural noun means more than one person, place, or thing. A possessive noun shows ownership. Check out this chart to get a better understanding of what we mean:
| Singular | Plural | Singular Possessive | Plural Possessive |
|---|---|---|---|
| cat | cats | cat’s | cats’ |
| child | children | child’s | children’s |
| woman | women | woman’s | women’s |
Constructing Plural Possessive Nouns: Rules and Exceptions
Now how do we construct these plural possessive? As we talked about, the general rule is straightforward, but you’ll also need to remember a few exceptions to the rules.
General Rule for Forming Plural Possessive Nouns
In most cases, to form a plural possessive noun, you just add an apostrophe after the “s” at the end of the plural noun.
Examples:
- The dogs’ bowls were filled with fresh water.
- The teachers’ lounge was renovated over the summer.
- The musicians’ instruments were tuned before the concert.
Irregular Plural Nouns and How to Make Them Possessive
Some nouns have irregular plural forms that don’t end in “s.” In these cases, you add an apostrophe followed by an “s” to form the possessive.
Examples:
- The children’s toys were scattered across the living room.
- The men’s suits were on sale at the department store.
- The geese’s feathers ruffled in the wind.
Special Cases: Hyphenated and Compound Plural Nouns
The apostrophe is placed after the last word in hyphenated or compound plurals.
Examples:
- My brothers-in-law’s advice helped me make a decision.
- The vice presidents’ meeting ran longer than expected.
- The passers-by’s reactions to the street performer were priceless.
Step-by-Step Guide to Forming Plural Possessive Nouns
- Determine whether the noun is singular or plural.
- If the noun is plural and ends in “s,” add an apostrophe after the “s.”
- If the noun is plural but doesn’t end in “s,” add an apostrophe followed by an “s.”
- For hyphenated or compound plural nouns, add the apostrophe after the final word.
Practice makes perfect. To reinforce your understanding of making plural possessives, try these practice exercises:
- The (baby/babies) _____ cribs were assembled by the new parents.
- (Marcus/Marcus’) _____ and (Thomas/Thomas’) _____ soccer cleats were muddy after the game.
- The (woman/women) _____ hats were adorned with colorful ribbons.
Recognizing the Difference Between Singular and Plural Possession
You might be wondering, “What’s the difference between singular and plural possessive nouns”? Well, here’s a quick break down of the differences between the two. It’s pretty straightforward, but let’s make sure it’s clear to you.
Singular Possessive Nouns
A singular possessive noun shows that one thing owns something. It can be a person, place, or thing. How do you form a singular possessive? You’re going to add an apostrophe followed by an “s” to the end of the noun.
Examples:
- The cat’s toy is hidden under the couch.
- Sarah’s new book is a bestseller.
- The tree’s leaves turned golden in autumn.
Plural Possessive Nouns
But, a plural possessive noun shows that many people, places, or things own something. How do you form a plural possessive noun? The formation of plural possessives depends on whether the plural noun ends in “s” or not.
Examples:
- The students’ projects were showcased at the science fair.
- The mice’s tiny footprints were scattered across the floor.
- The children’s laughter filled the playground.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake is confusing possessive nouns with plurals. A plural noun means more than one person, place, or thing. A possessive noun shows ownership. Check out this chart to get a better understanding of what we mean:
SingularPluralSingular PossessivePlural Possessivecatcatscat’scats’childchildrenchild’schildren’swomanwomenwoman’swomen’s
Constructing Plural Possessive Nouns: Rules and Exceptions
Now how do we construct these plural possessive? As we talked about, the general rule is straightforward, but you’ll also need to remember a few exceptions to the rules.
General Rule for Forming Plural Possessive Nouns
In most cases, to form a plural possessive noun, you just add an apostrophe after the “s” at the end of the plural noun.
Examples:
- The dogs’ bowls were filled with fresh water.
- The teachers’ lounge was renovated over the summer.
- The musicians’ instruments were tuned before the concert.
Irregular Plural Nouns and How to Make Them Possessive
Some nouns have irregular plural forms that don’t end in “s.” In these cases, you add an apostrophe followed by an “s” to form the possessive.
Examples:
- The children’s toys were scattered across the living room.
- The men’s suits were on sale at the department store.
- The geese’s feathers ruffled in the wind.
Special Cases: Hyphenated and Compound Plural Nouns
The apostrophe is placed after the last word in hyphenated or compound plurals.
Examples:
- My brothers-in-law’s advice helped me make a decision.
- The vice presidents’ meeting ran longer than expected.
- The passers-by’s reactions to the street performer were priceless.
Step-by-Step Guide to Forming Plural Possessive Nouns
- Determine whether the noun is singular or plural.
- If the noun is plural and ends in “s,” add an apostrophe after the “s.”
- If the noun is plural but doesn’t end in “s,” add an apostrophe followed by an “s.”
- For hyphenated or compound plural nouns, add the apostrophe after the final word.
Practice makes perfect. To reinforce your understanding of making plural possessives, try these practice exercises:
- The (baby/babies) _____ cribs were assembled by the new parents.
- (Marcus/Marcus’) _____ and (Thomas/Thomas’) _____ soccer cleats were muddy after the game.
- The (woman/women) _____ hats were adorned with colorful ribbons.
Navigating Joint Possession and Individual Ownership
Now we also have to differentiate between join possession and individual ownership. If there are many people, places, or things that own something, that’s joint poessession. But if its a singular person, that’s individual ownership.
Joint Possession
Joint possession occurs when multiple entities share ownership of a single item. When this is the case, only the final noun in the list requires an apostrophe.
Examples:
- Sarah and Michael’s apartment is located downtown.
- The dogs and cat’s toys were scattered across the living room floor.
- The students and teacher’s collaborative project won first prize.
Individual Ownership
With individual ownership, each entity owns a separate item. So when we form the possessive, each noun in the list is going to require an apostrophe.
Examples:
- Sarah’s and Michael’s cars were parked in the garage.
- The dogs’ and cat’s food bowls were placed in separate rooms.
- The students’ and teacher’s individual contributions were acknowledged in the yearbook.
Strategies for Determining Joint or Individual Possession
So how can you tell the difference? Ask yourself: are you faced with multiple entities, do they share a single item (joint possession). Or, if each owns a separate item (individual ownership).
Consider the following examples:
- Incorrect: The band and singer’s performance was electrifying.
- Correct: The band’s and singer’s performances were electrifying.
In the incorrect example, the band and singer are treated as joint owners of a single performance. But, they likely gave separate performances. So, each noun needs an apostrophe to show individual ownership.
Applying Plural Possessive Nouns in Context: Sentences and Phrases
In this section, we’re going to see how plural possessive nouns function in various sentence structures and phrases. Hopefully, this will bolster your understanding and give more clarity to your writing.
Using Plural Possessive Nouns in Different Sentence Structures
Plural possessive nouns can function as subjects, objects, or complements in sentences. Here are a few examples:
- Subject: The employees’ hard work resulted in a successful product launch.
- Object: The coach praised the players’ dedication and sportsmanship.
- Complement: The artists’ creativity was the exhibition’s highlight.
The Role of Plural Possessive Nouns in Phrases
Plural possessive nouns can also be crucial in different types of phrases. For example, noun phrases and adjective phrases. Here’s some examples you can check out:
- Noun Phrase: The students’ projects, ranging from science experiments to art installations, were displayed in the school gymnasium.
- Adjective Phrase: The actors’ portrayal of the characters was both emotionally gripping and technically impressive.
Common Sentence and Phrase Patterns
When you recognize common sentence and phrase patterns that include plural possessive nouns, you’ll be more effective in your writing.
- The [plural possessive noun]’s [noun] was/were [adjective].
- The children’s toys were scattered across the playroom floor.
- [Noun] [verb] the [plural possessive noun]’s [noun].
- The teacher praised the students’ efforts during the science fair.
- The [noun] of the [plural possessive noun] was/were [adjective].
- The dedication of the volunteers was truly inspiring.