APOSTROPHES 4. Possessive Plural (i) POSSESSIE APOSTROPHES show OWNERSHIP. They tell us who or what is the owner of a thing or a feeling. The owner can be singular or plural. The apostrophe is ALWAYS attached to the owner and NEER to what is owned. The number of things owned does not affect the position of the apostrophe. RULES for using the POSSESSIE APOSTROPHE (Plural) 1. Find the plural OWNERS (most will end in an S ). 2. With plural owners ending in S, add JUST an apostrophe ( ) AFTER the COMPLETE name Page 1 of 5
3. With plural owners not ending in S, add an apostrophe and an s ( s) AFTER the COMPLETE name PLURAL OWNERS Most PLURAL OWNERS END IN AN S. In this case, ownership is shown by adding JUST an apostrophe ( )AFTER their COMPLETE NAME. Examples (the owners are underlined) The girls hats (the hats belonging to the girls) The parents protest (the protest belonging to the parents) The students textbooks (the textbooks belonging to the students) A few PLURAL OWNERS DO NOT END IN AN S In this case, ownership is shown by adding an apostrophe AND an S ( S) AFTER their COMPLETE NAME. Examples (the owners are underlined) The men s changing rooms (the changing rooms belonging to the men) Page 2 of 5
NB NOT mens because men (the plural form of man ) are the owners and not mens. The children s book (the book belonging to the children) NB NOT childrens because children (the plural form of child ) are the owners and not childrens. PLURAL OWNERS Remember: OWNERS CAN BE OBJECTS Examples: (The owners are underlined) The flowers petals were pink (the petals of the flowers) The church bells ringing woke me up. (the ringing of the church bells) The teeth s fillings need replacing (the fillings of the teeth) (NB because the plural teeth DOES NOT END IN AN S, we add an apostrophe and an S ( S) to show ownership) Remember: IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY OBJECTS ARE OWNED Examples: (The owners are underlined) The lights rays were blinding (the rays belonging to the lights) Page 3 of 5
The brothers factory was large. (the factory belonging to the brothers) The women s keep-fit class is enjoyable. (the keep fit class belonging to the women) Exercise 1. FIND THE OWNER/S In the following phrases underline the owner or owners and indicate whether they are singular or plural (Answers in box below). The first TWO have been done for you. 1. the car park belonging to the pub. (Singular) 2. the recruitment policy of the armed forces. (Plural) 3. the merchandise of Marks & Spencer 4. support for victims 5. the salon of the hairdresser 6. three years of neglect 7. the power of local authorities 8. the rights of the tenants 9. the season of the Football League 10. votes for women e were 3 SINGULAR rs: b irdresser otball League e were 7 PLURAL rs: Page 4 of 5 med forces rks & Spencer tims ars al authorities nants men
PLURAL OWNERS Exercise 2. Re-write the phrases about the 7 plural owners. The first one has been done for you. PLURAL OWNERS show ownership by adding: an apostrophe ( ) AFTER the COMPLETE NAME of owners ending in S an apostrophe and an s ( s) AFTER the COMPLETE NAME of owners whose names do not end in S. 1. the recruitment policy of the armed forces. BECOMES: the armed forces recruitment policy 2. the merchandise of Marks & Spencer BECOMES: 3. support for victims BECOMES: 4. three years of neglect BECOMES: 5. the power of the local authorities Page 5 of 5
BECOMES:. 6. the rights of tenants BECOMES: 7. votes for women BECOMES:.. Now ask the tutor for: G&P 3.46 APOSTROPHES 5. Possessive Plural (ii) Page 6 of 5