JenDave's Grammar Worksheet Number 1

Grammar Handout No. 1: Plurals and Possessives

Plural nouns

In most cases, simply add the letter s to the singular form:

cat + s = cats frame + s = frames
A multitude of dragons flew through the sky.

However, if the singular form of the noun ends in s, add es:

mistress + es = mistresses class + es = classes
There are too many princesses competing for the throne.

If the singular form of the noun ends in a consonant + y, drop the y and add ies:

lady - y + ies = ladies dairy - y + ies = dairies
Some people like to read other people's diaries.

Some singular nouns ending in o form plurals by adding es:

hero + es = heroes potato + es = potatoes
In a canyon, one can hear echoes.

And some plural nouns don't have an s on the end at all:

child : children medium : media
The succubi and incubi hunted throughout the night.
Note that in none of these cases is there any apostrophe (') involved!

Singular possessives

In most cases, the singular possessive is formed by taking the singular form of the noun and adding 's:

The student's papers were well-written. (One student; multiple papers)
The first mate's smile was infectious.

However, when a singular noun already ends in s and adding 's would be hard to pronounce, the writer can choose either to add just an apostrophe or 's.

Sophocles' plays are frequently depressing.
Hercules's feats of strength are legendary.

Plural possessives

If the plural form of the noun ends in s, the plural possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe (') after the s:

All of the students' comments were interesting.
In fairy tales, the heroes' helpers usually do most of the work.

If the plural form of the noun ends in a letter other than s, the plural possessive is formed by adding 's:

The children's clothes were filthy after they played in the mud.
The media's coverage of the event left something to be desired.

Possessive pronouns

Possessive pronouns do not contain any apostrophes whatsoever. Possessive pronouns include his, her(s), our(s), their(s), your(s), my/mine, and the frequently misspelled its.

Note that the word it's means IT IS.

But don't plurals contain apostrophes sometimes?

It is conventionally correct to use an 's to pluralize numbers and letters, as in "I was born in the 70's" or "I thumbed through the R's in the phonebook."

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