These activity sheets will teach your students how to identify and construct possessive nouns.

When we want a person, place, or thing to display ownership, we will use these forms of words. Demonstrating this in a word is pretty simple you just and the end of the word with an apostrophe (‘) followed by the letter s. If we wanted to say that a baseball glove belonged to Gilbert, we would refer to the glove as Gilbert's baseball glove. You may ask yourself why we would ever need to write with the use of possessive nouns. The answer is that these word forms make the language of the sentence flow much better. Otherwise you need to write a clunky sentence to express the same thought, such as: The baseball glove on the bench belongs to Gilbert. One way to negate a noun as being possessive is if it includes the word part self or selves. Both singular and plural nouns can be possessive.

The following collection of worksheets will help your students learn about the proper use and placement of possessive nouns. Activities include rewriting sentences to include a noun, identifying the correct noun for a given sentence, rewriting nouns to demonstrate the correct possessive form, determining if a given noun is in the correct form, writing a noun to fill in the blank in a given sentence, and more. Please Note: While answer keys have been provided for each activity sheet for instructors, in some cases, your students' answers will vary.



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Print Possessive Nouns Worksheets

Click the buttons to print each worksheet and associated answer key.

Belonging Worksheet

Words That Indicate Belonging

Rewrite each sentence using a noun to show what it belongs to. This will put you in the driver seat with this skill.

Singular Form Worksheet

Using Singular Form

Adding an "s" to many singular nouns makes them plural. But by adding an apostrophe and an “s” to the end of a singular word, a possessive is formed. These words are used to show that something belongs to a person, place, thing or idea.

Irregular Worksheet

Irregular Plurals

Irregular forms are not simple to work with and do not often follow a pattern. Write the correct form of each irregular plural to complete each sentence.

Marked Worksheet

Possessive or Plural?

Read each sentence below. If the bolded noun in the sentence is correct, put a check on the line. If it is not correct, put an X on the line.

Mine Worksheet

Mine! Mine! Mine!

Underline the correct noun form. Rewrite the sentence on the line. Follow the directions to make sure you choose the proper term.

Starters Worksheet

Word Starters

Write in the correct form of the possessive to complete each sentence. Make sure that you read into the context rather then just focusing on the words.

Singular Form Worksheet

Singular Form

Complete each sentence by adding a singular noun. Add articles where they are needed.

Ownership Worksheet

Ownership

Rewrite the underlined nouns in the sentences below to make them possessive. Make sure that what you choose to place fits the context of the sentence.

Singular or Plural Worksheet

Singular or Plural Possessive?

Tell whether each underlined possessive is singular or plural. Take your time and read them carefully.

Create Them Worksheet

Create Them

Fill in the two blank lines with the correct the noun form as you are asked for. You will be placing two nouns at a time here.

Belonging Worksheet

It Belongs To Me

Complete each sentence. Write the possessive form of the noun in parentheses to show belonging. You will need to read the entuire sentence before you make your decision.

Roosters Worksheet

The Roosters

Read the two sentences. Then combine them by filling in the two blanks with the correct noun and usage specs.

Sentence Worksheet

Nouns in Sentences

Write the correct form of the noun on the blanks to complete each sentence. This is a good critical thinking activity for students.

Catching Worksheet

Catch the Parentheses

Write the correct noun form to complete each sentence. Use the noun provided to the left of each sentence.

Ownership Worksheet

Possess Me

Carefully read and find the error in each sentence. Write the correct form of the possessive noun on the line.

How to Use Possessive Nouns

As evident from the name, possessive nouns demonstrate "possession" or "ownership" of something. They're also used to describe a particular attribute or aspect of something. They are usually placed before the item whose ownership is to be described.

If you want to change a sentence or phrase to show that a noun belongs to something or someone, a possessive noun will serve that purpose. Consider the following statement. Sally's imagination was filled with all kinds of possibilities.

In the above sentence, the "imagination" belongs to Sally. Below is another example.

The miniature racing car is Mike's favorite toy.

Over here, "Mike's favorite toy" shows ownership of an item by a person.

Types of Possessive Nouns

Possessive nouns are generally divided into "singular" and "plural" types.

Singular Form

You can turn a singular noun (a noun that represents a single thing) into a possessive noun by adding an "apostrophe + s (‘s)" to it. Remember that the ‘s has to be added even if a singular noun ends in an "s." For example, "Collins's shoes" and "James's car."

Plural Form

To turn a plural noun into a possessive one, you must add an apostrophe (‘) to the word. If a noun's plural form ends in an "s," you only need to add an apostrophe to change it into a plural possessive noun.

On the other hand, irregular plural nouns require the ‘s to be made possessive. They change form to become plural, such as "goose" and "geese." Hence, they're treated like singular nouns when there's a need to turn them into possessive nouns.

Consider the examples below.
- The boys' hats are dark blue. (Regular Plural Possessive Noun)
- The children's books are in the locker. (Irregular Plural Possessive Noun)

Grammar Rules

Like everything else in English grammar, possessive nouns follow a few basic rules. These are discussed below.

Rule # 1: Addition of "Apostrophe + S" to Singular Nouns

You can turn most singular nouns into possessive with the addition of "apostrophe + s." Below are a couple of examples.

- Alan's car is wonderful.
- The dog's collar is green.
- We have seen the company's logo.

Rule # 2: Addition of "S" After the Apostrophe to Plural Nouns

Simply adding an apostrophe to a plural noun that ends in "s" would be enough to make it possessive. There's no need for an additional "s" in this case. Take a look at the following examples.

- The two nations' armies took their positions on the border.
- Both companies' workers protested together.

Rule # 3: No Need for an Apostrophe

The pronoun "it," in its possessive nature, is one exception to the apostrophe rule. Adding an apostrophe will turn into "it's," which is a contraction form of "it is." Below are a couple of scenarios where this is used.

- We followed its trail.
- The researchers weren't sure of its beginnings.

Rule # 4: Compound Nouns & Hyphenated Nouns

You need to add "apostrophe + s" for compound words at the end. On the other hand, the "apostrophe + s" should be added to the last word for hyphenated nouns. See the examples below.

- He entered the attorney general's office at 2:00 PM.
- You can buy rolls and packets of the US Postal Service's stamps.
- My father-in-law's startup has revitalized my career in finance.

Rule # 5: Possession Shared by Multiple Nouns

This rule caters to sentences about two humans, things, or places that share the "ownership" of something. Whenever two or more nouns share possession, you only need to add "apostrophe + s" to the last noun.

- Chandler and Joey's apartment is smaller than the one across the hall.
- Jack and Jill's pail of water fell down the hill.
- Steph Curry and Klay Thompson's performances tonight made all the difference to the Golden State Warriors.

Rule # 6: Separate Ownership for Multiple Nouns

While this is one of the trickier rules, you won't need to use it too often. Every time possession has to be separately indicated for two or more nouns; you have to add "apostrophe + s" to each noun. This will demonstrate separate ownership. Following are some examples.

- Kevin's and Alicia's rooms have been painted white and blue, respectively.

In the statement above, the two individuals have different rooms, and they were painted separately.

- Martin's and Joanna's bikes are on the stand.

In this example, Joanna and Martin have a bike parked on the stand.

Final Words

Nouns are an integral part of the English language. Hopefully, this piece helped you understand the proper use of the possessive form. That's all for this post. Adios till next time!