Possessive Nouns Explained

What Are Possessive Nouns?

Possessive nouns show ownership or a relationship of belonging between one thing and another.

Basic Rules

• Singular nouns: Add 's (e.g., dog’s tail)
• Plural nouns ending in "s": Add only an apostrophe (e.g., dogs’ tails)
• Plural nouns not ending in "s": Add 's (e.g., children’s toys)
• Joint possession: Only the last noun gets 's (e.g., Tom and Jerry’s house)
• Separate possession: Both nouns get 's (e.g., Tom’s and Jerry’s cars)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Its’ is not a word — use its (no apostrophe) for the possessive pronoun.

✅ Correct: The cat licked its paw.

✅ Not: The cat licked it’s paw. (That would mean “it is”)

Interactive Quiz

Choose the correct possessive form: