Grammar

Possessive Nouns and the Apostrophe - English Grammar Lesson

Published April 27, 2026 · 5 views

This lesson explains possessive nouns and the apostrophe in simple English, with rules and examples for students and exam preparation.

Rule

Add 's to singular nouns and to plural nouns not ending in s. Add only an apostrophe to plural nouns ending in s.

Examples

  • the girl's bag
  • the children's toys
  • the students' books

Common Mistake

Incorrectthe dog's are barking
Correctthe dogs are barking

Practice Tip

Write three original sentences about this topic, then check each one against the rule above.

Related: Parts of Speech and English Tenses.