Possessive Nouns: Owning Your Words!

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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What Are Possessive Nouns?

Possessive nouns are nouns that show ownership. They tell who owns what!

To form a possessive noun, you use an apostrophe (') and sometimes an -s. Here’s how it works.

Sally’s toy → Sally owns the toy, so you add an apostrophe and an -s.

Sammy’s bike → Sammy owns the bike, so again, you add an apostrophe and -s.

It’s like putting a little ownership tag on a noun to show it belongs to someone. Look at a few more examples.

Tom’s book → Tom owns the book.

Anna’s hat → Anna owns the hat.

The dog’s bone → The dog owns the bone.

• Notice how the apostrophe and -s show possession?

That’s the magic of possessive nouns! Now, break down how to form them.

How to Form Possessive Nouns

Here’s how you form a singular possessive noun in a few simple steps.

1. Write the noun (the person, place, or thing).

2. Add an apostrophe (') to show possession.

3. Add an -s to show it belongs to one person, place, or thing.

Examples:

1. Joe (a person)

2. Add an apostrophe: Joe'

3. Add an -s for the possessive form: Joe's

Now, you have Joe's toy, meaning the toy belongs to Joe!

Try another one. Look at the word the cat.

1. Write the noun: cat

2. Add the apostrophe: cat'

3. Add the -s: cat's

So, the cat's toy means the toy belongs to the cat.

Head to the Got It? section for more practice!