How do you use a plural possessive in a sentence?

Answer 1

A plural possessive noun is a plural noun (or two or more nouns) that indicates that something in the sentence belongs to them.

A plural possessive noun is indicated by an apostrophe at the end of a plural noun ending with an s (s'), or an apostrophe s ('s) at the end of a plural noun that doesn't end with s.

The plural possessive normally comes before the noun for which it indicates possession anywhere that the noun appears in the sentence.

Examples:

• The Martins' boys are twins. (the boys are the subject of the sentence)
• The twins are the Martins' boys. (the boys are the direct object of the linking verb 'are', therefore functioning as the predicate nominative)
• Their grandfather bought bicycles for the Martins'boys (object of the preposition 'for')

A possessive noun (singular or plural) may come before modifying words that precede the noun.

Example: The birds' shabby old nest from last year needed some refurbishing. (the nest of the birds)

Examples of irregular plural possessive nouns that do not end with an s:

• A group of parents painted the equipment on the children's playground.
• The farmer dragged the oxen's yoke from the barn.

When the nouns of a compound subject or object share the same thing, use just one apostrophe for the last noun of the compound group:

Example: Jeff and Joan's dog is a malamute.

When the nouns of a compound subject or object differ in ownership, then both nouns are possessive:

Example: Jeff's and Joan's dogs both won prizes.

Answer 2

To show possession for more than one person or thing, add an apostrophe after the plural noun. For example, "the students' books" shows that the books belong to many students. This form indicates that the possession is shared among the plural subjects.