Possessive Nouns

A possessive noun shows ownership. It shows that a thing belongs to someone or
something. Apostrophes are used to show the possessive case. Possessive nouns
may be singular or plural.

 • To write the possessive form of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and -s.

 Example: a cell phone that belongs to Cara—Cara’s cell phone

More examples: Joni’s gloves, James’s pen, the hamster’s cage, New Jersey’s
beaches

 • To write the possessive form of a plural noun that ends in -s, add an apostrophe
after the -s.

 Example: the bikes of the students—the students’ bikes

 More examples: the puppies’ bed, the boys’ basketball team, the Smiths’ boat

 • To write the possessive form of a plural noun that does not end in -s, add an
apostrophe and -s.

 Example: the coats of the children—the children’s coats

 More examples: the women’s ski team, the mice’s nest, the oxen’s plow