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English Quiz - Apostrophes (To Show Plural Possession) 01 (Questions)

Apostrophes can show plural possession. Learn when to add just an apostrophe or ’s, and punctuate phrases like the players’ kits or children’s books with confidence.

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Fascinating Fact:

Plural possession for regular plurals often adds only an apostrophe. The players’ kits dried by the heater.

In KS3 English, you refine apostrophes for possession. Regular plurals ending in -s usually take only an apostrophe (the teachers’ lounge), while irregular plurals add ’s (the children’s playground).

Key Terms

Plural possession: Showing that something belongs to more than one person or thing, e.g. the dogs’ bowls.
Regular plural: A plural that ends in -s (cats, players); usually add only an apostrophe for possession.
Irregular plural: A plural that does not end in -s (children, men); use ’s for possession.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How do you punctuate plural possession in KS3?

For regular plurals ending in -s, add only an apostrophe: the players’ kits. For irregular plurals, add ’s: the children’s books.

What is the difference between plural and plural possessive?

A plural names more than one (cats). A plural possessive shows ownership by more than one (cats’ toys) using an apostrophe in the correct place.

Do names ending in s use an apostrophe or ’s?

Follow your style rule. Many accept either James’ coat or James’s coat. Be consistent, and check your school’s guidance.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Letters belonging to several parents.

[ ]	The parents letters
[ ]	The parent's letters
[ ]	The parents' letters
[ ]	The parents letter's

2.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Books belonging to several teachers.

[ ]	The teachers books
[ ]	The teacher's books
[ ]	The teachers' books
[ ]	The teachers book's

3.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Chocolate belonging to several girls.

[ ]	The girls chocolate
[ ]	The girl's chocolate
[ ]	The girls' chocolate
[ ]	The girls chocolate'

4.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Pens belonging to several writers.

[ ]	The writer's pens
[ ]	The writers' pens
[ ]	The writers pen's
[ ]	The writers pens'

5.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Corners belonging to several tables.

[ ]	The table's corners
[ ]	The tables' corners
[ ]	The tables corner's
[ ]	The tables corners'

6.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The roots of several trees.

[ ]	The tree's roots
[ ]	The trees' roots
[ ]	The trees root's
[ ]	The trees roots'

7.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The handles of several doors.

[ ]	The door's handles
[ ]	The doors' handles
[ ]	The doors handle's
[ ]	The doors handles'

8.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The singing of several performers.

[ ]	The performers singing
[ ]	The performer's singing
[ ]	The performers' singing
[ ]	The performers singing'

9.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The keyboards of several computers.

[ ]	The computer's keyboards
[ ]	The computers' keyboards
[ ]	The computers keyboard's
[ ]	The computers keyboards'

10.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The keys of several cars.

[ ]	The car's keys
[ ]	The cars' keys
[ ]	The cars key's
[ ]	The cars keys'

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - How to check your apostrophes are correct

English Quiz - Apostrophes (To Show Plural Possession) 01 (Answers)

1.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Letters belonging to several parents.

[ ]	The parents letters
[ ]	The parent's letters
[x]	The parents' letters
[ ]	The parents letter's

The plural "parents" already ends in an -s, so only needs an apostrophe to follow

2.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Books belonging to several teachers.

[ ]	The teachers books
[ ]	The teacher's books
[x]	The teachers' books
[ ]	The teachers book's

The plural "teachers" takes a single apostrophe at the end to make the word possessive

3.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Chocolate belonging to several girls.

[ ]	The girls chocolate
[ ]	The girl's chocolate
[x]	The girls' chocolate
[ ]	The girls chocolate'

"Girls" is a plural ending in -s, so only needs a final apostrophe

4.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Pens belonging to several writers.

[ ]	The writer's pens
[x]	The writers' pens
[ ]	The writers pen's
[ ]	The writers pens'

Remember that "pens" is not possessive here, so does not need any apostrophe. The "pen's cap" would be an example of a possessive

5.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
Corners belonging to several tables.

[ ]	The table's corners
[x]	The tables' corners
[ ]	The tables corner's
[ ]	The tables corners'

"Corners" are not possessive here, so do not take an apostrophe

6.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The roots of several trees.

[ ]	The tree's roots
[x]	The trees' roots
[ ]	The trees root's
[ ]	The trees roots'

The plural "trees" ends in an -s already, so only needs a final apostrophe to make it possessive

7.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The handles of several doors.

[ ]	The door's handles
[x]	The doors' handles
[ ]	The doors handle's
[ ]	The doors handles'

The possessive here is "doors'". If "handles" were also possessive, a sentence might look like this: "All the doors' handles' former shine had worn away". It would be more likely to say, "All the door handles' former shine had worn away", however

8.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The singing of several performers.

[ ]	The performers singing
[ ]	The performer's singing
[x]	The performers' singing
[ ]	The performers singing'

The plural "performers" already ends in an -s

9.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The keyboards of several computers.

[ ]	The computer's keyboards
[x]	The computers' keyboards
[ ]	The computers keyboard's
[ ]	The computers keyboards'

The plural "computers" ends in an -s, so only needs a final apostrophe to become possessive

10.

Find the correct answer for the following phrase.
The keys of several cars.

[ ]	The car's keys
[x]	The cars' keys
[ ]	The cars key's
[ ]	The cars keys'

Remember, the "car's keys" refers to the keys of a single car