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Master English Grammar

Possessive Forms: ' for Plural Possession

Learn how to show plural possession using an apostrophe (') in sentences like the students’ classroom.

What Are Possessive Forms for Plural Nouns?

Possessive forms show that something belongs to more than one person or thing. To show possession for plural nouns that already end in s, we add just an apostrophe (').

  • Examples: – This is the students’ classroom.
  • Examples: – Those are the teachers’ desks.

Key Components of Plural Possessive Forms:

  • Add an apostrophe (') to plural nouns ending in s For regular plurals, add just '. Example: the dogs’ toys.
  • The possessed object follows The thing that belongs to the plural noun comes after the possessive. Example: the students’ books.

Examples in Sentences:

  • People: These are the teachers’ materials.
  • Places: We visited the cities’ landmarks.
  • Things: The cars’ engines are powerful.

When to Use ' for Plural Possession:

Use ' to show that something belongs to a plural noun ending in s.

  • People: The students’ classroom is large.
  • Places: We admired the countries’ cultures.
  • Things: The dogs’ collars are colorful.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Adding 's to plural nouns ending in s: ❌ The students’s books. ✔️ The students’ books.
  • Forgetting the apostrophe: ❌ The dogs toys are here. ✔️ The dogs’ toys are here.

Rules for Using ' to Show Plural Possession

  • Add just an apostrophe (') to plural nouns ending in s to show possession.

    • These are the students’ desks.
    • Those are the cats’ toys.

  • Use ' with plural names of people or places.

    • We visited the Smiths’ house.
    • These are the teachers’ materials.

  • For irregular plural nouns that don’t end in s, add 's.

    • The children’s playground is new.
    • The men’s shoes are on sale.

  • Special Cases & Exceptions:

    For compound nouns, add the apostrophe to the end of the entire phrase.

ExampleDescription
The students’ classroomShows that the classroom belongs to the students.
The cats’ toysShows that the toys belong to the cats.
The teachers’ loungeShows that the lounge belongs to the teachers.
The cars’ enginesShows that the engines belong to the cars.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.