Page 18 - English Grammar - 4

Read the following groups of words.

the books of the students — the students’ books

the school of boys — boys’ school

the hostel of girls — girls’ hostel

In the above groups of words, students, boys and girls are plural nouns. We use only

an apostrophe (’) to form their possessives.

We use an apostrophe (’) with s, when a plural noun does not end in -s.

Read the following groups of words.

the park of children — children’s park

the house of women — women’s house

the mee� ng of men — men’s mee� ng


In the above groups of words, children, women and men are plural nouns, which do
not end in -s. We use an apostrophe (’) with s to form their possessives.

R
Rememberemember

Generally, we do not use an apostrophe (’) with non-living things.

Example: We do not say book’s pages or table’s legs.

Practice Time

A. Rewrite the following groups of words using an apostrophe.

1. the clothes of the old man _______________________________________
Apostrophe (’) 3. the feathers of the peacocks _______________________________________
_______________________________________
2. the dress of the girl

4. the helmets of the riders
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
5. the computer of Peter

_______________________________________
6. the offi ce of my father _______________________________________
7. the birthday of my sister
8. the shirts of the boys _______________________________________

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