Possessive Apostrophes with Proper Nouns: Examples for AP Writing

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Basic Rule: To form the possessive of most singular proper nouns, add an apostrophe and an 's' ('s). Example: Shakespeare's plays.
• 🏛️ Classical Names: For classical names ending in 's,' you can add just an apostrophe (') or an apostrophe and an 's' ('s). Both are generally acceptable. Example: Jesus' teachings OR Jesus's teachings.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Plural Proper Nouns: If the proper noun is plural and ends in 's,' add only an apostrophe ('). Example: The Smiths' house.
• ✍️ Compound Proper Nouns: Treat compound proper nouns like regular nouns. Add 's to the end. Example: King Henry VIII's reign.
• 💡 Clarity is Key: If adding 's makes pronunciation awkward, consider rephrasing. Instead of: Euripides's plays, try: The plays of Euripides.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the correct possessive form of 'Charles Dickens'?
   1. Charles Dickens'
   2. Charles Dickens's
   3. Charles Dickenss'
   4. Charles Dicken's
2. What is the correct possessive form of 'The Jones family'?
   1. The Jones's family
   2. The Joneses' family
   3. The Jones' family
   4. The Jone's family
3. Which sentence uses the correct possessive form?
   1. Keats poem was inspiring.
   2. Keats's poem was inspiring.
   3. Keats' poem's was inspiring.
   4. Keats's' poem was inspiring.
4. How do you show possession for 'Massachusetts' in a sentence?
   1. Massachusetts's capital is Boston.
   2. Massachusetts' capital is Boston.
   3. Massachusett's capital is Boston.
   4. Massachusetts's' capital is Boston.
5. Which is the correct possessive of 'Euripides'?
   1. Euripides'
   2. Euripides's
   3. Both A and B
   4. None of the above
6. Which sentence is correct?
   1. St. James' Park is beautiful.
   2. St. James's Park is beautiful.
   3. Both A and B
   4. None of the above
7. What is the correct possessive form for 'Lewis Carroll'?
   1. Lewis Carroll'
   2. Lewis Carroll's
   3. Lewis Carrols'
   4. Lewis Caroll'