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The only way to know when a noun is plural possessive or singular possessive is to know when a noun is plural or singular. There are regular plural nouns that are formed by adding an 's' or an 'es' to the end of the word, but there are many variations of irregular plural nouns that may or may not end with an 's'. There are also uncountable plural nouns that have no singular form, and uncountable singular nouns that have no plural form; not to mention nouns that are spelled the same in both the plural and the singular form.

If you're not sure of the noun itself, look up the noun in a dictionary (or dictionary website). Most dictionaries show the plural form of the noun.

Once you know if the noun is plural or singular, you can apply to rules for forming possessive nouns:

1. For a singular noun that does not end with 's', add an apostrophe s ('s) to the end of the word.

  • This is my mother'scar.
  • Dr. Porter's office is in building two.
2. There are two accepted forms that show possession for singular nouns ending in s:

Add an apostrophe (') after the existing s at the end of the word: class'

Add an apostrophe s ('s) after the existing s at the end of the word: class's

  • The class' assignment is due on Monday.
  • The class's assignment is due on Monday.
3. For regular plural nouns that end with an s, an apostrophe is placed after the ending s (s').
  • All of my classes' assignments are done.
  • The babies' names are Jack and Jill.
4. For irregular plural nouns that do not end with an s, add an apostrophe s ('s) to the end of the word (the same as a singular noun that doesn't end with s).
  • We went to the children's playground.
  • We followed the mice's footprints to find the gap where they entered.
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How do know a word is plural or possessive?

There is no simple answer to this question. The best way to know your words (singular or plural, and possessive forms) is to increase your vocabulary (the number of words that you know and recognize).Most plural nouns are formed by adding an "s" to the end of the word (apple, apples; bell, bells).But many plural nouns do not end with an "s" (child, children; foot, feet).Some nouns do not change from singular to plural (one deer, two deer; one aircraft, two aircraft).And some nouns do not have a singular form or a plural form (barracks, oxygen); these are called mass nouns or uncountable nouns.Possessive nouns are indicated by adding an apostrophe s ('s) to the end of the word, or just an apostrophe to the end of a plural noun that ends with an s (s').Examples:apple; The apple's color was bright green. (singular possessive)apples; The apples' colors were red, green, and yellow. (plural possessive)child; A child's coat hung by the door. (singular possessive)children; The children's coats hung in a row. (plural possessive)deer; We saw a deer's footprints in the snow. (singular possessive)deer; The were many deer's footprints in the snow. (plural possessive)barracks; It was my job to scrub the barracks'floor. (singular possessive)barracks; All of the barracks' roofs needed repair. (plural possessive)


Is wife's singular possessive noun or plural possessive?

The word wife's is singularpossessive.The plural form is wives.The plural possessive is wives'.Examples:My wife's birthday is on Friday.Well, what do you know, our wives' birthdays are the same day.


Is most singular or plural?

I think its singular i know its wierd but would it be the most insted of just most.


When to use was vs were in an insubordinate clause?

Don't know what an insubordinate clause is, but I do know that "was" is singular, and "were" is plural. 2nd person (you) is an exception, you use "were" in both singular and plural: You were (singular, one person) You were (plural, all of you) Otherwise, like I said, you just use "was" in 1st person and 3rd person singular, and "were" in 1st and 3rd plural: I was (1st person singular) He/she/it was (3rd person singular) We were (1st person plural) They were (3rd person plural)


How do you pluralize compound possessive nouns?

A noun must be pluralized before its possessive can be formed because the different endings of plural nouns determines how to form the possessive. The same is true for compound nouns, which form the plural in different ways.Singular possessives are formed by adding an apostrophe s to the end of a noun; for example:apple; apple's coreboy; boy's bicycleclass; class's homeworkDover; Dover's mayorFor plural nouns that end in -s, the possessive are formed by adding an apostrophe after the existing -s; for irregular plural nouns that don't end with -s, the possessive is formed by adding the apostrophe s the same as a singular noun.This is when you need to know how the plural form ends in order to form the plural possessive; for example:the plural noun apples ends with an s, so the possessive is formed by just adding an apostrophe after the existing s: apples' coresbut the plural form for the noun child is children, which does not end with an s; plural nouns that do not end with s are made possessive the same as singular nouns; children'splaygroundplural nouns that do not end with s are called irregular plurals; some other examples of irregular plural possessive nouns are (mouse) mice's tracks or (man) men's shoesCompound nouns can also have different plural forms and must be made plural before determining how its plural possessive is formed; for example:the plural form for the the regular compound noun bedroom is bedrooms, the plural possessive is: bedrooms' doorsthe plural form for the compound noun paint brush is paint brushes, the plural possessive is: paint brushes'bristlesexamples of irregular plural compound nouns are: businessman, the plural is businessmen, the plural possessive is: businessmen's luncheonmother-in-law, the plural is mothers-in-law, the plural possessive is: mothers-in-law's opinionspasserby, the plural is passersby, the plural possessive is: The passersby's attention was drawn by our new sign.

Related Questions

What is the possessive form of persons?

The possessive form of the singular noun person is person's.The possessive form of the plural noun persons is persons'.Examples:Do you know that person's name? (singular)How many persons' names are on the list? (plural)


What is the plural possessive form of reptiles?

The singular is reptile, the plural is reptiles, and the plural possessive is reptiles' (e.g. The reptiles' owners did not know their origin.)


Is Jonathan's singular or plural?

Jonathan's is singular possessive; if you know two people by this name, the plural is Johnathans; the plural possessive is Jonathans'. Example sentence: My brother and my cousin are both Jonathans; the Jonathans' last names are the same also.


How do know a word is plural or possessive?

There is no simple answer to this question. The best way to know your words (singular or plural, and possessive forms) is to increase your vocabulary (the number of words that you know and recognize).Most plural nouns are formed by adding an "s" to the end of the word (apple, apples; bell, bells).But many plural nouns do not end with an "s" (child, children; foot, feet).Some nouns do not change from singular to plural (one deer, two deer; one aircraft, two aircraft).And some nouns do not have a singular form or a plural form (barracks, oxygen); these are called mass nouns or uncountable nouns.Possessive nouns are indicated by adding an apostrophe s ('s) to the end of the word, or just an apostrophe to the end of a plural noun that ends with an s (s').Examples:apple; The apple's color was bright green. (singular possessive)apples; The apples' colors were red, green, and yellow. (plural possessive)child; A child's coat hung by the door. (singular possessive)children; The children's coats hung in a row. (plural possessive)deer; We saw a deer's footprints in the snow. (singular possessive)deer; The were many deer's footprints in the snow. (plural possessive)barracks; It was my job to scrub the barracks'floor. (singular possessive)barracks; All of the barracks' roofs needed repair. (plural possessive)


What is wife in plural and possessive form?

The singular possessive of the noun wife is wife's.The plural form for the noun wife is wives.The plural possessive form is wives'.Examples:My wife's birthday is on Friday.Well, what do you know, our wives' birthdays are the same day.


Is wife's singular possessive noun or plural possessive?

The word wife's is singularpossessive.The plural form is wives.The plural possessive is wives'.Examples:My wife's birthday is on Friday.Well, what do you know, our wives' birthdays are the same day.


What is the singular possessive form of person?

The singular possessive form of "person" is "person's." The possessive plural would either be "persons' " or "people's."Example:Each person's responsibility is to be a good steward of their own life and to obey the laws.


Is tent a noun?

the tent


What is the possessive form of photographers?

Photographs is a plural noun, so it needs to be made singular, resulting in the word photograph. From there, photograph needs to be possessive, which results in the word photograph's. Photograph is the singular form of photographs. Photographs is the plural form. Photograph's is the singular possessive form. Photofgraphs' is the plural possessive form.


Is woman's plans a plural possessive case?

The number of plans is not a relevant factor in these type of questions. It is the number of women that is important. A woman's plan or a woman's plans are both singular for the possessive. The women's plan or the women's plans are both plural for the possessive. Confusing, I know.


Is the word know singular or plural?

the word 'know' is neither singular nor plural. This word is a 'verb' and is in the present tense.


Is most singular or plural?

I think its singular i know its wierd but would it be the most insted of just most.