Plural v. Possessive When and Where to Use an Apostrophe

Possessive Nouns or Plural Nouns Do not confuse possessive nouns with plural nouns: – Most plural nouns end in –s or –es. boyboys peachpeaches If a noun is possessive, you need an apostrophe before or after the “ s.”

Forming Plural and Possessive Nouns Singular Possessive – add –’s – The boy’s shoe is black. Plural Possessive – ending in –s, add –’ – Two boys’ shoes are under the desk. – not ending in –s, add -’s – The mice’s teeth are sharp.

Check six wolves wolf’s tail three boys two boys’ shoes one boy’s socks plural singular possessive plural plural possessive singular possessive Is the underlined word plural, singular possessive, or plural possessive?

Check Gus’s pencil three Guses the Joneses’ dog the child’s shirt the children’s books singular possessive plural plural possessive singular possessive plural possessive Is the underlined word plural, singular possessive, or plural possessive?

Check Write the noun in parenthesis in its correct plural, singular possessive, or plural possessive form. Balloon _____ have become popular. (race) Several _____ are supporting this race. (airport) An area is reserved for _______. (spectator) races airports spectators

Check One _______ son is in the race. (spectator) The occasion is a _________ delight. (photographer) Will all the _______ please climb aboard? (passenger) Many _________ cameras clicked rapidly. (photographer) passengers photographer’s spectator’s photographers’

Check All the ________ friends wave goodbye to them. (passenger) Soon, they cannot hear their _____ voices. (friend) The balloons soar over one ________ house. (passenger) friends’ passenger’s passengers’