Possessives

Words that show ownership are called possessive nouns.

A noun is possessive if a phrase can be changed to say that an item or idea belongs to someone else.
Example: The musket that belongs to Pa was lost. Pas musket was lost.

An apostrophe (') is used to show the ownership.

Rule To show possessive of singular nouns add 's.
Examples: Nathan => Nathan's fault Mama => Mama's medicine bag the stranger => the stranger's coat Duffy => Duffy's tail

The possessive form can also show an feature or characteristic.

Examples: floor => the floors dirt musket => the muskets barrel table => the tables legs medicine bag => the medicine bags handle

Practice

Write the possessive of each item below.

Example the hat of the boy => the boys hat
1.

the wegiwa belonging to Ezra ______________________________ The shirt belonging to Nathan ______________________________ The collar belonging to Duffy ______________________________

2.

3.

Remember
If a singular noun ends in an s you must add an apostrophe and s to make it show possession.
Examples the bubbles belonging to molasses => molassess bubbles the chain belonging to cross => the crosss chain

Practice

Write the possessive of each item below.

Example the dog belonging to James => Jamess dog
1.

the ruffle of the dress ______________________________ the money belong to the business ______________________________ the leaves of the cypress ______________________________

2.

3.

Activities
Activity 2 (Singular Possessives) http://philong.smt.googlepages.com/7 .PossessiveAdjectivesandNouns.swf
Singular Possessive Nouns http://www.wisconline.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID =WCN6702

Practice
Turn in your student packet to English Lesson 5 on Singular Possessives page 18. Complete numbers 1-27.

Plural Possessives Rules 1-2

Rules 1. To show possession of singular nouns add 's.
2.

To show possession of plural nouns ending in s add an apostrophe ('). Examples: piglets => piglets' mother Indians => Indians' home settlers => settlers' worry

Activities
Possessive Noun Play (Two Player Tic Tac Toe with Rules 1 3) http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/possessive_noun/
Possessive Nouns (Type in the possessive word) http://74.52.58.98/~getchafr/portfolio/moreatonce/keg/posse ssive.swf Quiz http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/stonebrink/ESL012/pos sessives/turtlemc3quiz.swf

Exploring for Possessives

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/exploring_possessives/inde x.html

Practice
Example

Write the possessive of each item below.

the wegiwas of the Shawnees => the Shawnees wegiwas
the hats of the settlers ______________________________ the edge of the river ______________________________ the victims of the government agents ______________________________

1.

2.

3.

Practice
Turn in your student packet to English Lesson 6 on Singular Possessives page 22. Complete numbers 1-30.

Plural Possessives Rule 3

To show the possession of a plural noun not ending in s add 's. Example:
oxen => oxen's yoke feet => feet's blisters

Activities
Possessives (Slideshow with activities) http://www.topel.com/pdf_files/1-1209/possessives.swf?TRK=0
Skill Builder (Type in the possessive word) http://www.wisconline.com/objects/WCN6602/WCN6602.swf Grammar Gold Quiz http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/language_art s/goforgold/content_builder/dswmedia/g3c10/nadia .htm

Practice

Write the possessive of each item below.

Example the pets of the children =>

the childrens pets

1.

the first snow of winter

2.

______________________________ the innocence of the people

3.

______________________________ the blanket of Job ______________________________

Practice
Turn in your student packet to English Lesson 7 on Singular Possessives page 26. Complete numbers 1-35.

Plural Possessives Rule 4

If there is joint possession, use the correct possessive for only the possessive closest to the noun

Ezra and Nathan's friendship grew. Pa was worried about his son and daughter's safety.

Plural Possessives Rule 5

If there is a separate possession of the same noun, use the correct possessive form for each word.

The Indians and the settlers excuses were equally false. The fiddlers' and the singers' families went to the fiddler contest.

Plural Possessives Rule 6

In a compound construction, use the correct possessive form for the word closest to the noun. Avoid possessives with compound plurals.

His father-in-law's wegiwa was made of poplar logs. The Indian scouts job was to move the Native Americans to the reservation.

SmartBoard Activity
Apostrophes in Possessive Nouns.notebook