Plural –s
Plural means ‘more than one’. We add an –s to many words when there are more than one of them, for example:
How many different plural words ending in –s do you know?
Write as many of them as you can on a whiteboard in 30 seconds.
dogs
biscuits
toys
Possessive –s
An -s can be added to show possession of a singular noun, however it needs to have an apostrophe in the correct place to make it grammatically correct.
People disagree over whether to use an additional -’s with possession of a singular noun which already ends in -s (such as cactus, bus, James). Choose a rule and stay consistent.
e.g. James’s pencil needed to be sharpened.
the dog’s fur
the cake’s icing
the toy's price
Plural and Possessive –s
Now it is your turn. Add an –s to show the plural form of these singular nouns, then write a sentence which shows possession by the singular noun.
Singular | Plural -s | Singular Possessive –’s |
dog | dogs | The dog’s collar was red. |
snake | | |
cupcake | | |
chicken | | |
train | | |
lemon | | |
Lucky Dip
Spin the wheel to choose a singular noun. Then choose a box. If the number is even, you must write the noun in its plural form. If the number is odd, you must write a sentence which shows possession by the singular noun.
Spin
?
?
?
?
?
?
4
1
6
2
5
3
Which Word Is Correct?
Read the sentences below and decide which word should go in the gap. Is it the one with plural –s or the possessive –’s?
The keeper had brought him lots of fresh, juicy apples.
rocks / rock’s / rocks’s
The on the coast jutted out of the sea.
and his son were waiting for an appointment.
elephants / elephant’s / elephants’s
Mr Jones / Mr Jones’ / Mr Jones’s
Which Word Is Correct?
Could you decide which word should go in the gap? Was it the one with plural –s or the possessive –’s?
The elephant’s keeper had brought him lots of fresh, juicy apples.
rocks / rock’s / rocks’s
The rocks on the coast jutted out of the sea.
Mr Jones and his son were waiting for an appointment.
elephants / elephant’s / elephants’s
Mr Jones / Mr Jones’ / Mr Jones’s
Plural or Possessive?
Read the sentences below and decide whether the word with an ‘s’ is plural or possessive.
Plural
Possessive
The sea’s tide rose rapidly.
The girl’s birthday party was cancelled.
The boys must all wear shorts in the summer.
Jimmy’s mother was feeling angry.
The cactus’s spikes were extremely sharp.
Simon taught his friends how to multiply by five.
Thomas’s birthday is on the 10th March.
Many penguins swam through the icy water.
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Does the –s in the word which is underlined show that it is plural �or possessive?
You’re correct. How did you know?
Plural
Possessive
Vivian’s new curtains looked lovely at her window.
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Does the –s in the word which is underlined show that it is plural �or possessive?
You’re good at this!
Plural
Possessive
I am six years and three months old.
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Does the –s in the word which is underlined show that it is plural �or possessive?
Great! How did you know?
Plural
Possessive
Sabiha’s birthday was only one week away.
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Does the –s in the word which is underlined show that it is plural �or possessive?
You’ve got it!
Plural
Possessive
The summer holidays were almost over.
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Does the –s in the word which is underlined show that it is plural �or possessive?
What gave it away?
Plural
Possessive
Many creatures lurk inside the Titanic’s rusting remains.
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Does the –s in the word which is underlined show that it is plural �or possessive?
You’re an expert now.
Plural
Possessive
One of the world’s deadliest creatures is the box jellyfish.
Which Word Is Correct?
Read the sentences below and decide which word should go in the gap. Is it the one with plural –s or the possessive –’s?
tallest skyscraper is called The Shard.
Elizabeths / Elizabeth’s / Elizabeths’s
The look on face was priceless.
Millions of visit Mecca every year.
Londons / London’s / Londons’s
Muslims / Muslim’s / Muslims’s
Which Word Is Correct?
Could you decide which word should go in the gap? Was it the one with plural –s or the possessive –’s?
London’s tallest skyscraper is called The Shard.
Elizabeths / Elizabeth’s / Elizabeths’s
The look on Elizabeth’s face was priceless.
Millions of Muslims visit Mecca every year.
Londons / London’s / Londons’s
Muslims / Muslim’s / Muslims’s
Silly Sentences
Build the silliest sentences that you can by choosing one word from each of the columns below and writing a sentence which makes sense.
�Example: All of Mrs Jenkins’s sharks were trimming the hedge!
Plural –s | Possessive –’s | Random |
ants bananas girls sharks pencils | Anita’s dog’s Mrs Jenkins’s pizza’s cinema’s | melon rabbit lemonade jigsaw hedge |
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Which of these is the correct way to complete the following sentence?
Hip hip hooray! How did you know?
dogs
After his walk, the
paws were muddy.
dog’s
dogs’s
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Which of these is the correct way to complete the following sentence?
Brilliant!
flowers
Bees and butterflies love brightly coloured .
flower’s
flowers’s
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Which of these is the correct way to complete the following sentence?
Ace!
referees
referee’s
referees’s
The
whistle blew at half-time.
Plural or Possessive? Quick Quiz
Take a quiz to see if you are an expert!
Which of these is the correct way to complete the following sentence?
You are amazing!
Jess
Jess’s
Jes’s
phobia of peas controlled her life.