Plural Nouns

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.

The plural form of the noun month is months.

The plural possessive form is months'.

Example: I've taken a two months' leave to visit my family in New Zealand.

The plural form is Ps and Qs.

The plural possessive form is Ps and Qs'.

Example: Your Ps and Qs' training seems lacking.

There are two accepted plural forms of the noun memorandum:

memoranda and memorandums.

The plural possessive forms are memoranda's and memorandums'.

Examples:

The memoranda's file is alpha by last name of sender.

The memorandums' file is alpha by last name of sender.

A possessive noun is a noun indicating ownership, possession, origin, or purpose.
A plural possessive noun is a noun for two or more people, places, or things that show possession.
A plural possessive noun is formed by adding an apostrophe (') to the end of plural nouns that already end with -s, or an apostrophe s ('s) to the end of plural nouns that do not end with -s.

Examples:

• The boys' coats all hung in a row. (ownership, the coats belonging to the boys)
• The girls' smiles lit up their faces. (possession, the smiles on the faces of the girls)
• The parents' efforts helped to raise the funds. (origin, the efforts provided by the parents)
• The children's playground was freshly painted. (purpose, the playground intended for children)
  

The plural form of the noun class is classes.

The plural possessive form is classes'.

Example: All of the classes' schedules can be found on-line.

The plural form of the noun pant (a short quick breath) is pants.

The plural possessive form is pants'.

Example: His pants' quickness told me that he had run far.

The noun pants (a garment) is a shortened form of a pair of pants.

The plural form is pairs of pants. The plural possessive form is pairs of pants'.

Example: These pants' prices are out of my range.

The plural form of the noun wife is wives.

The plural possessive form is wives'.

Example: Our wives' birthdays are on the same day, we should plan a party.

The plural form of the noun hour is hours.

The plural possessive form is hours'.

Example: They are expected to arrive in three hours' time.

A plural noun that does not end in s (an irregular plural) forms the possessive in the same way as a singular noun, by adding an apostrophe s ('s) to the end of the word.

Examples:

• the children's playground
• the men's locker room
• the mice's footprints
• women's shoes

The plural form of the noun user is users.

The plural possessive form is users'.

Example: Our site users' experiences can vary.

The plural form of the noun penny is pennies.

The plural possessive form is pennies'.

Example: The pennies' jar is almost full.

The form woman's is the singular possessive form.

The plural form of the noun woman is women.

The plural possessive form is women's.

Example: The women's lingerie department is on the second level.

The plural form of the noun cookie is cookies.

The plural possessive form is cookies'.

Example: The cookies' recipe was on the back of the flour sack.

No, the noun body's is the possessive form of the singular noun body.

Example: The police have not determined the body's identity.

The plural form of the noun body is bodies.

A regular plural is a noun to which an -s or an -es is added to the end of the word to form the plural.
An irregular plural noun is a plural formed in some other way.

Examples of irregular plural nouns:

singular / plural

• alumnus / alumni
• baby / babies
• bacterium / bacteria
• cactus / cacti
• child / children
• foot / feet
• goose / geese
• knife / knives
• man / men
• medium / media
• memory / memories
• mouse / mice
• ox / oxen
• person / people
• tooth / teeth
• wife / wives
• woman / women