Chapter 4 - Possessive Nouns

Question 1

Noun Plural vs Possessives

> Noun Plural:
- do not include an apostrophe ( ‘ ).
Possessive:
- must include an apostrophe ( ‘ ).
- both do end in S.

> Possession:
- occurs when one noun or pronoun
possesses another.
- may be shown with an apostrophe
construction or a prepositional phrase
without an apostrophe.
Possessive Construction:
- usually two nouns appear together.
First one show “ownership of” or “a
special relationship to” the second one.
Apostrophe used to show:
- Ownership, Origin, Authorship,
Measurement.
Reverse Noun:
- Use the second noun to begin a
prepositional phrase. The object of the
preposition is the ownership word.

Answer 1

Examples:
>Noun Plural:
- My two brotherS work in Vancouver.
>Plural & Possessive:
- Both my older brothers(‘ ) rooms were
always messy.
>Possessive:
- My oldest brother’S room was opposite
mine.

Possessive Construction:
1) Have you seen Wendy’S project?
2) Mistry’S novels are world famous.
3) Alisha has ten years(‘) experience.

> Ownership: Wendy’s project
Origin: manager’s directive.
Authorship: Mistry’s work
Measurement: ten years’ experience

> Reverse Nouns:
1) Wendy’s project - project of Wendy.
2) Mistry’s work - work of Mistry.
3) ten years’ experience - experience of
ten years.

Question 2

Ownership Words:
1) Wendy (singular & does not end in an
S sound)
2) Mistry (singular & does not end in an S
sound
3) years (plural & does end in an S sound.

*WORD OF CAUTION: do not use apostrophes for nouns that simply show more than one of something.

Answer 2

Singular Ownership: requires an ‘S
- Wendy’S project
- Mistry’S work
- the men’S book
- a witness’S testimony

Plural Ownership: if ends in an S only add ‘, if does not end in S add ‘S.
- with an S: ten years(‘) experience, both
doctors(‘) offices.
- with no S: the styli’S price, woman’S
health.

Question 3

Descriptive vs Possessive Nouns
>Discriptive:
- when nouns only describe or identify
then apostrophes are not needed.
>Compound Nouns:
- make possessive by adding an ‘ or ‘S
to the end of the compound word.
>Incomplete Possessives:
- when the second noun in a possessive
noun construction is omitted, the first
noun is nevertheless possessive.

Answer 3

Examples
Descriptive vs Possessive nouns:
1) sales division (not sales’ division)
2) electronics industry (not electronics’
industry)
3) earnings record (not earnings’ record)

Compound noun:
1) notary public’S car
2) editor-in-chief’S suggestions.

Incomplete Possessive:
1) The meeting is at Tarig’s house [omit
house]
2) Darren’s exam is earlier than Roberto’s
[omit Roberto’s]

Question 4

> Separate Ownership:
- when two nouns express separate
ownership, make both possessive.
Combined Ownership:
- when two nouns express combined
ownership, make only the second one
possessive.
Names of Organizations:
- with possessives in their name may or
may not use apostrophes.
- follow the style used by individual
organizations.
Abbreviations:
- follow the same guidelines as for
nouns.

Answer 4

Examples:
>Separate ownership:
1) men’s and woman’s locker room
2) Jill’s and Maureen’s cars.

> Combined ownership:
1) Carol and Cheryl’s company.
2) husband and wife’s inheritance.

> Names of organizations:
1) Domino’s Pizza Inc.
2) B.C. Homeowners Associate
3) Tim Hortons franchise.

> Abbreviations:
1) CPAs’ convention
2) the CMA’s ruling
3) Baker Bros’ sale
4) all Ph. Ds’ dissertations

Question 5

Awkward Possessives:
- when the addition of an apostrophe
results in an awkward construction show
ownership by using a prepositional
phrase.

Proper Noun Possessive:
- singular possessive proper nouns that
end in an S sound may have either an ‘S
or just an ‘, depending on the style being
used.

Answer 5

Examples
>Awkward Possessives:
1) Awkward: the chief of police’s pension.
Improved: the pension of the chief of
police.
2) Awkward: my friend’s father’s business.
Improved: the business of my friend’s
father.
3) Awkward: Ms. Saltzman, my lawyer’s
advice.
Improved: the advice of my lawyer Ms.
Saltzman.

Question 6

Proper Nouns Possessive:

Singular Name:
- Mr. Jones
- Mr. Morris
- Elder Rais
- Miss. Schwartz

Singular Possessive - Traditional
- Ms. Jones’s
- Mr. Morris’s
- Elder Rais’s
- Miss. Schwartz’s

Answer 6

Singular Possessive - Popular
- Mr. Jones’
- Mr. Morris’
- Elder Rais’
- Miss. Schwartz’

Plural Possessive:
- Mr. Joneses’
- Mr. Morrises’
- The Raises’
- the Schwartes’

Question 7

Five Steps to Ensure the ‘ is used Correctly

1 - Look for possessive construction: usually two nouns appear together. First noun shows ownership (or special relationship to) the second noun.

2 - Reverse the nouns: use the second noun to begin a prepositional phrase. The object of the preposition is the ownership word.

3 - Examine the ownership word: to determine the correct placement of the apostrophe, must first know if the ownership is singular or plural.

4 - If the ownership is singular: add ‘S

5 - If the ownership is plural:
a) and it ends in the S sound, then only add ‘
b) does not end in the S sound, then add an ‘S.

Answer 7

Examples

1 - the man’s book, Tita’s note, a year’s rent

2 - book of the man, note from Tita, rent of a year

3 - is the ownership word singular or plural

4 - the man’s book, a witness’s testimony

5 -
a) both doctors offices’, several investors’ portfolios.
b) the children’s games, woman’s health