Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns

Key Notes:

Understanding Plural Nouns

• Plural nouns show that there is more than one of something.
• Usually formed by adding –s or –es to the singular form.
  ✅ Example:
  • Cat → Cats 🐱
  • Box → Boxes 📦
• Irregular plurals don’t follow the usual rule.
  ✅ Example:
  • Child → Children 👧
  • Foot → Feet 🦶
  • Mouse → Mice 🐭

⚠️ Common Error:
❌ The childs are playing.
✅ The children are playing.

Understanding Possessive Nouns

• Possessive nouns show ownership or belonging. 💼
• Usually formed by adding ’s or s’.

✅ Examples:

• Singular possessive: The girl’s book (one girl owns the book) 📖
• Plural possessive: The girls’ books (many girls own books) 📚

Rules for Forming Possessive Nouns

📘 Singular noun + ’s

• The dog’s leash 🐶
• The teacher’s desk 🍎

📗 Plural noun ending in s + ’

• The students’ classroom 🎒
• The teachers’ lounge ☕

📙 Plural noun not ending in s + ’s

• The children’s playground 🛝
• The men’s shoes 👞

Common Mistakes and Corrections

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct	💡 Explanation
The dog’s are barking.	The dogs are barking.	Plural noun, not possessive.
The students book is missing.	The student’s book is missing.	Possessive form needed.
The teachers lounge is big.	The teachers’ lounge is big.	Plural possessive needed.
The childs toy is broken.	The child’s toy is broken.	Singular possessive + irregular noun.

Tips to Remember

🔹 If the word shows ownership → add ’s or s’
🔹 If the word shows more than one → add s or es
🔹 Never use both plural and possessive endings unless needed:
❌ The dogs’s bone → ✅ The dogs’ bone 🦴

Quick Practice

👉 Identify and correct the errors:

1. The boys toy is missing.
   ✅ The boy’s toy is missing.
2. The cats tail is long.
   ✅ The cat’s tail is long.
3. The womens bags are on the table.
   ✅ The women’s bags are on the table.

Summary

Type	Example	Key Idea
Plural	Books	More than one
Singular Possessive	Boy’s hat	One boy owns it
Plural Possessive	Boys’ hats	Many boys own them

Remember:

✍️ Plural = Quantity
✍️ Possessive = Ownership