Possessive Nouns: Definition, 100+ Examples & Worksheet

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GrammarStudyNounEnglish

'Nouns' play a major role in English grammar. Noun is a naming word that refers to a person, place, thing, idea, feeling, or animal. There are several types of nouns, and one important type is the possessive noun. This guide will help you undestand what possessive nouns are, how to use them correctly, and you'll explore 100+ examples and practice questions (Worksheet) to master this topic.

What are Possessive Nouns?

Possessive Noun Definition and Examples

Possessive nouns show ownership or a relationship between things. They tell us that something belongs to someone or something.

Examples:

  • John's book → The book belongs to John.
  • The dog's tail → The tail of the dog.
  • Children's toys → The toys belong to the children.
  • India's culture → The culture of India.
  • The teacher's desk → The desk of the teacher.
  • The company's profits → The profits of the company.

How to form possessive nouns:

  • Singular nouns: Add an apostrophe and "s" ('s).
  • Plural nouns ending in "s": Add only an apostrophe (').
  • Irregular plural nouns (not ending in "s"): Add an apostrophe and "s" ('s).
  • Example:
    • Singular noun + 's
      • Example: boy → boy's hat
    • Plural noun ending in “s” + only an apostrophe (')
      • Example: teachers → teachers' room
    • Irregular plural nouns (not ending in “s”) + 's
      • Example: children → children's park

100+ Examples of Possessive Nouns

Here are 100+ examples of possessive nouns, demonstrating a variety of patterns (singular nouns + 's, plural nouns ending in s + apostrophe, and irregular plurals + 's). These examples will help you understand how possessive nouns are used in different contexts:

  1. Ram's book
  2. The cat's whiskers
  3. Sarah's idea
  4. My friend's car
  5. A child's laughter
  6. The teacher's pen
  7. The dog's bone
  8. The student's homework
  9. The baby's smile
  10. The doctor's advice
  11. John's bicycle
  12. An author's novel
  13. The artist's painting
  14. The bird's nest
  15. The soldier's uniform
  16. The farmer's field
  17. The chef's knife
  18. The actor's role
  19. The athlete's trophy
  20. The driver's license
  21. The neighbor's fence
  22. The gardener's flowers
  23. The carpenter's tools
  24. The lawyer's briefcase
  25. The dentist's chair
  26. The librarian's book
  27. The musician's guitar
  28. The dancer's shoes
  29. The mechanic's garage
  30. The journalist's article
  31. The scientist's experiment
  32. The manager's office
  33. The CEO's decision
  34. The nurse's station
  35. The king's crown
  36. The queen's gown
  37. The prince's castle
  38. The princess's tiara
  39. The country's flag
  40. The city's skyline
  41. The nation's anthem
  42. The president's speech
  43. The farmer's market
  44. The baker's loaf
  45. The cashier's register
  46. The pilot's cockpit
  47. The captain's ship
  48. The elephant's trunk
  49. The lion's mane
  50. The tiger's stripes
  51. The whale's tail
  52. The horse's mane
  53. The fox's den
  54. The deer's antlers
  55. The mouse's hole
  56. The bird's wings
  57. The fish's scales
  58. The monkey's tail
  59. The rabbit's ears
  60. The wolf's howl
  61. The sheep's wool
  62. The goat's horns
  63. The cow's milk
  64. The bee's hive
  65. The spider's web
  66. The ant's hill
  67. The frog's croak
  68. The snake's hiss
  69. The insect's wings
  70. The flower's petals
  71. The tree's branches
  72. The mountain's peak
  73. The river's flow
  74. The ocean's waves
  75. The lake's surface
  76. The forest's canopy
  77. The desert's sand
  78. The island's shore
  79. The valley's floor
  80. The cave's entrance
  81. The bridge's span
  82. The building's roof
  83. The school's playground
  84. The library's shelves
  85. The museum's exhibits
  86. The stadium's seats
  87. The hotel's lobby
  88. The restaurant's menu
  89. The café's coffee
  90. The shop's window
  91. The store's sign
  92. The mall's parking lot
  93. The airport's runway
  94. The station's platform
  95. The theater's stage
  96. The gallery's walls
  97. The hotel's pool
  98. The gym's equipment
  99. The park's bench
  100. The playground's slide
  101. The children's toys (irregular plural + 's)
  102. The mice's cheese (irregular plural + 's)
  103. The women's restroom (irregular plural + 's)
  104. The men's locker room (irregular plural + 's)
  105. The geese's honk (irregular plural + 's)
  106. The people's choice (irregular plural + 's)
  107. The oxen's strength (irregular plural + 's)
  108. The children's laughter (irregular plural + 's)
  109. The zebras' stripes (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  110. The buses' routes (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  111. The doctors' lounge (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  112. The cats' food bowls (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  113. The teachers' lounge (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  114. The players' locker room (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  115. The birds' migration (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  116. The cars' headlights (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  117. The buses' stops (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  118. The families' homes (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  119. The teams' uniforms (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)
  120. The employees' salaries (regular plural ending in s + apostrophe)

Read about Collective Nouns to learn about another type of noun that groups individuals or things together.

Possessive Nouns Examples Sentence

Here are 10 examples sentences using possessive nouns:

  1. The cat's toy is missing.
  2. The teacher's desk is cluttered.
  3. The dog's leash is too short.
  4. The child's backpack is heavy.
  5. The artist's painting won an award.
  6. The student's project was impressive.
  7. The baby's crib is in the corner.
  8. The doctor's appointment is at 3 PM.
  9. The chef's recipe is a secret.
  10. The musician's concert was sold out.

Practice Questions (Worksheet)

Practice Worksheet: Possessive Nouns

Part A: Underline the Possessive Noun

(Underline the possessive noun in each sentence.)

  1. Emma’s bag was left on the bus.
  2. The teacher’s phone rang during the lecture.
  3. My brother’s friends are coming over tonight.
  4. The children’s laughter filled the room.
  5. The café’s pastries smell delicious.

Part B: Rewrite to Show Possession

(Rewrite each pair of words or phrase using a possessive noun with an apostrophe. Keep the meaning the same.)

  1. The books belonging to Sarah

  2. The bike belonging to Jason

  3. The coat of my father

  4. The snacks of the students

  5. The house of our neighbors

Part C: Fill in the Blank with the Correct Possessive Form

(Rewrite the noun in parentheses in its correct possessive form to complete the sentence.)

  1. ________ (Anna) phone keeps shutting off.

  2. I borrowed ________ (my sister) shoes for the party.

  3. Have you seen ________ (the dog) leash?

  4. Let’s grab coffee at ________ (Jake and Mia) favorite café.

  5. ________ (the children) toys are scattered in the yard.

Part D: Correct the Possessive Errors

(Each sentence below has an error related to its possessive noun. Rewrite the sentence correctly.)

  1. The students’s essays were submitted late.

  2. My moms’s car broke down on the highway.

  3. The cats tails were all tangled together.

  4. James’ bike got stolen last night.

  5. The childrens’ playground is brand new.

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