English Language Arts
Grade 12
15 min
Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns
Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between plural nouns, singular possessive nouns, and plural possessive nouns in complex sentences.
Correctly apply apostrophes to show possession for singular nouns, including those ending in 's' (e.g., Keats's).
Correctly apply apostrophes to show possession for both regular (e.g., students') and irregular (e.g., women's) plural nouns.
Analyze and correct sentences containing errors in joint and separate possession (e.g., 'Gilbert and Gubar's theory' vs. 'Eliot's and Pound's poems').
Distinguish between possessive pronouns (its, whose) and contractions (it's, who's) in formal academic writing.
Systematically proofread their own critical essays to identify and eliminate apos...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Possessive NounA noun that shows ownership, possession, or a relationship to another noun. It is typically formed with an apostrophe and an 's'.In the phrase 'Hamlet's dilemma,' the noun 'Hamlet's' is possessive, indicating the dilemma belongs to Hamlet.
Plural NounA noun that refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Most plural nouns are formed by adding -s or -es.The words 'novels,' 'critics,' and 'theories' are plural nouns.
Plural Possessive NounA plural noun that shows ownership. For plural nouns ending in 's', the apostrophe is placed after the 's'. For irregular plurals not ending in 's', an apostrophe and 's' are added.Regular: 'The...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
Rule 1: Singular Possessives
Noun + 's
To form the possessive of any singular noun, add an apostrophe and an 's'. This applies even to singular nouns that already end in 's', which is the preferred style in most academic style guides (like MLA and Chicago).
Rule 2: Plural Possessives
Plural Noun ending in 's' + ' | Irregular Plural Noun + 's
For regular plural nouns that end in 's', add only an apostrophe after the existing 's'. For irregular plural nouns that do not end in 's' (e.g., children, women, men), add an apostrophe and an 's'.
Rule 3: Compound & Joint/Separate Possession
Final Noun + 's (Joint) | Each Noun + 's (Separate)
For compound nouns or nouns in joi...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
A student's draft reads: 'The research teams findings were compromised by it's reliance on a single manuscript, which was discovered in a ladies's restroom.' Identify the sentence that corrects all three errors.
A.The research team's findings were compromised by its reliance on a single manuscript, which was discovered in a ladies' restroom.
B.The research teams' findings were compromised by it's reliance on a single manuscript, which was discovered in a ladies restroom.
C.The research team's findings were compromised by its reliance on a single manuscript, which was discovered in a ladies' restroom.
D.The research teams' findings were compromised by its reliance on a single manuscript, which was discovered in a ladies' restroom.
Challenging
Which sentence correctly synthesizes the rule for a singular possessive ending in 's' with the rule for separate possession?
A.Professor Jones' and Dr. Williams's essays present conflicting interpretations.
B.Professor Jones's and Dr. Williams's essays present conflicting interpretations.
C.Professor Jones and Dr. Williams's essays present conflicting interpretations.
D.Professor Jones's and Dr. Williams' essays present conflicting interpretations.
Challenging
A student writes: 'The audiences reaction to the actors performance was muted, perhaps because of the plays difficult themes.' Which option best describes the combination of errors?
A.singular possessive is used as a plural, and a plural possessive is missing an apostrophe.
B.plural noun is incorrectly made possessive, and a singular possessive is missing an apostrophe.
C.contraction is confused with a possessive pronoun, and a plural noun is used instead of a possessive.
D.plural possessive is formed incorrectly, and a simple plural is used instead of a possessive.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free