We have learnt that nouns are parts of speech that are fundamental to learning English. We have also learnt that nouns come in different forms and types. We have seen how nouns can be classified into different types such as common nouns, proper nouns, collective nouns, abstract nouns, concrete nouns, countable nouns and uncountable nouns. We have also seen how nouns can be converted into adjectives. Yet another property of nouns is the fact that some nouns double up as verbs. In this quiz we look at another type known as the possessive nouns.
Since nouns name places, persons, objects, things and ideas it may be necessary to relate a person with an object. For instance, ‘man’ is a common noun and it describes a person. ‘Pen’ is also a common noun and it describes an object. If the pen belongs to the man, one way of saying it is ‘the pen belongs to the man’. Is there another way of saying it? Yes! Try ‘the man’s pen’. Here ‘man’s’ is referred to as a possessive noun.
A possessive noun is a noun used to indicate ownership. The rule to signify a possessive noun is to put an apostrophe at the end of the word followed by the letter ‘s’. For plural words ending in 's' an apostrophe after the 's' is used. Take care to see that you use the apostrophe on the person for whom the possession must be shown!
Be careful not to get confused while using ITS and IT’S. Though IT’S has an apostrophe, it is not used in the possessive form but used as a shortened form of IT IS. The possessive form is actually ITS. For instance, ‘the cat drank ITS milk from the bowl’ is correct and not ‘the cat drank IT’S milk from the bowl.’
Learn all about possessive nouns in the quiz that follows.