Ch. 5 - 2 Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Objectives Distinguish between possessive nouns and plural nouns. Follow five steps in using the apostrophe

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 5 - 2

Objectives• Distinguish between possessive nouns

and plural nouns.• Follow five steps in using the

apostrophe to show ownership. • Use apostrophe construction for

animate nouns.

Possessive Nouns


• Distinguish between descriptive nouns and possessive nouns.

• Pluralize compound nouns, combined ownership nouns, organization names, and abbreviations.

• Understand incomplete possessives.• Avoid awkward possessives.

Possessive Nouns


Possessive Nouns

• Determine whether an extra syllable can be pronounced in forming a possessive.

• Make proper nouns possessive.


Showing Possession

• Apostrophes are used to show the following:

Ownership Wendy’s book

Origin Dr. Moss’s prescription

Authorship Hemingway’s works

Measurement ten years’ experience


1. Look for possessive construction. Usually two nouns appear together.

Have you seen Wendy’s book?

Five Steps in Apostrophe Use








Hemingway’s works are highly regarded.











Brad has ten years’ experience.






Brad has ten years’ experience.



2. Reverse the nouns.

Wendy(s) book =




Wendy(s) book = book of Wendy





Hemingway(s) works =





Hemingway(s) works = works of Hemingway






ten years experience =






ten years experience = experience of ten years



3. Examine the ownership word.

Wendy (does not end in an s sound)

Hemingway (does not end in an s sound)

years (does end in an s sound).



4. If the ownership word does not end in an s sound, add an apostrophe and an s.

Wendy’s book

Hemingway’s works




5. If the ownership word does end in an s sound, usually add an

apostrophe only. ten years’ experience

three employees’ wages


That company(s) workers rely heavily on e-mail.Name the two nouns together.

Reverse the nouns.

Examine the ownership word.

Does the word end in an s sound?

Should an apostrophe s or just an apostrophe be added?

Check your skill . . .


That company(s) workers rely heavily on e-mail.company(s) workers

Reverse the nouns.







Reverse the nouns.







workers of the company















company







company







company

ends in y






company

ends in y






company

ends in y

add ’s [company’s]



All administrators salaries will be reduced.Name the two nouns together.

Reverse the nouns.






All administrators salaries will be reduced.administrators salaries

Reverse the nouns.







Reverse the nouns.







salaries of administrators















administrators







administrators







administrators

administrators






administrators

administrators






administrators

administrators

add an apostrophe [administrators’]



A total of four months interest will be credited.Name the two nouns together.

Reverse the nouns.






A total of four months interest will be credited.months interest

Reverse the nouns.







Reverse the nouns.







interest of months







interest of months







interest of months

(four) months






interest of months

(four) months






interest of months

(four) months

(four) months





interest of months

(four) months

(four) months





interest of months

(four) months

(four) months

add an apostrophe [months’]



Problem Possessives

Animate vs. Inanimate Nouns

• Possessive constructions using apostrophes are usually reserved for people and animals.

• Prepositional phrases or simple adjectives are used for other nouns.


Which of the following possessives should be expressed with a prepositional phrase?

the girl’s shoes

the desk’s legs

an accountant’s ledgers



Which of the following possessives should be expressed with a prepositional phrase?

the girl’s shoes

the desk’s legs = legs of the desk

an accountant’s ledgers



Descriptive vs. Possessive Nouns• When nouns only describe or identify,

apostrophes are not used.

Sales Division (not Sales’ Division)

electronics industry (not electronics’ industry)

United States Army (not United States’ Army)

Problem Possessives


Compound Nouns

• The final element of a compound should show the possessive.

mother-in-law’s car

editor in chief’s suggestions

Problem Possessives


Incomplete Possessives• Use an apostrophe when the second noun

in a possessive construction is unstated but is understood.

The party is at Shelby’s. Darren’s exam is earlier than Roberto’s.

What is implied in each of these sentences?

Problem Possessives




The party is at Shelby’s house. Darren’s exam is earlier than Roberto’s.

Problem Possessives




The party is at Shelby’s house. Darren’s exam is earlier than Roberto’s.

Problem Possessives




The party is at Shelby’s house. Darren’s exam is earlier than Roberto’s exam.

Problem Possessives


Separate Ownership• When two names express separate

ownership, make both names possessive.

men’s and women’s locker rooms

David’s and Mike’s cars

Problem Possessives


Combined Ownership• When two names express combined

ownership, make only the second name possessive.

Carol and Cheryl’s apartment

Husband and wife’s inheritance

Problem Possessives


Names of Organizations• Organizations with possessives in

their names may or may not use apostrophes. Follow the style they use.

Domino’s Pizza, Inc.Malibu Homeowners Association

Problem Possessives


Abbreviations• Make abbreviations possessive by

following the same guidelines as for animate nouns (people and animals).

CPAs’ convention

Barker Bros.’ sale

Problem Possessives


Awkward Possessives• Reword awkward expressions by using

prepositional phrases.

Awkward: the chief of police’s pension

Improved: the pension of the chief of police

Problem Possessives


Problem Possessives

Awkward: My friend’s father’s business

Improved: the business of my friend’s father

Awkward: Mr. Saltzman, my attorney’s, advice

Improved: the advice of my attorney,Mr. Saltzman


• Review the steps for placing the apostrophe in possessive constructions.1. Look for possessive construction.

2. Reverse the nouns and use a prepositional phrase.

3. Examine the ownership word.

Adding to the Five Steps


4. If the ownership word does not end in an s sound, add an apostrophe

and an s.

5. If the ownership word does end in an s sound, usually add an apostrophe

only.



Addition• If an extra syllable can be easily

pronounced in the possessive form, add an apostrophe and an s.



• Extra Syllable Can Be Easily Pronouncedtests for the class



• Extra Syllable Can Be Easily Pronouncedtests for the class the class’s tests




the motorcycle of Les




the motorcycle of Les Les’s motorcycle





the table of the waitress





the table of the waitress the waitress’s table






the job of Mrs. Betz






the job of Mrs. Betz Mrs. Betz’s job



• Extra Syllable Cannot Be Easily Pronounced

games of the boys




games of the boys boys’ games





car of the Joneses





car of the Joneses the Joneses’ car






offices of managers







offices of managers managers’ offices


Change the following prepositional phrase to a possessive form.

1. testimony of the witness




1. testimony of the witness

witness’s testimony




2. books of the students




2. books of the students

students’ books




3. contracts of both companies




3. contracts of both companies

companies’ contracts




4. role of the actress




4. role of the actress

actress’s role




5. roles of the actresses




5. roles of the actresses

actresses’ roles



Making Singular Proper Nouns Possessive

• To make singular proper nouns ending in an s sound possessive, choose a style–but be consistent.

Traditional Style Popular Style

Jones’s Jones’

Barnes’s Barnes’

Russ’s Russ’

Gomez’s Gomez’


Making Plural Proper Nouns Possessive

• To make plural proper nouns possessive, add only an apostrophe.

Plural Proper Noun Possessive Form

the Joneses the Joneses’ car

the Barneses the Barneses’ car

the Lopezes the Lopezes’ car



1. the car of Mrs. Metz

Traditional Popular




1. the car of Mrs. Metz

Traditional Popular

Mrs. Metz’s car Mrs. Metz’ car




2. the car of the Metzes

Traditional Popular




2. the car of the Metzes

Traditional Popular

the Metzes’ car the Metzes’ car




3. the car of Mr. Williams

Traditional Popular




3. the car of Mr. Williams

Traditional Popular

Mr. Williams’s car Mr. Williams’ car




4. the car of Mrs. Flores

Traditional Popular




4. the car of Mrs. Flores

Traditional Popular

Mrs. Flores’s car Mrs. Flores’ car




5. the car of the Harrises

Traditional Popular




5. the car of the Harrises

Traditional Popular

the Harrises’ car the Harrises’ car




6. the car of Russ

Traditional Popular




6. the car of Russ

Traditional Popular

Russ’s car Russ’ car



Correct any errors. The sentence may already be correct.

1. At a recent stockholders meeting, the president of the company praised all 300 employees.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



1. At a recent stockholders meeting, the president of the company praised all 300 employees.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



1. At a recent stockholders’ meeting, the president of the company praised all 300 employees.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



2. After only one years training, the pilot received his instrument rating.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



2. After only one years training, the pilot received his instrument rating.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



2. After only one year’s training, the pilot received his instrument rating.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



3. A total of ten companies in the survey area indicated that they would be hiring new employees.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



3. A total of ten companies in the survey area indicated that they would be hiring new employees.

Correct

Chapter 5 - Quiz



4. Product updates on disks are now distributed to our sales staff.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



4. Product updates on disks are now distributed to our sales staff.

Correct

Chapter 5 - Quiz



5. Mike’s and Sonia’s apartment is near the shopping center.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



5. Mike’s and Sonia’s apartment is near the shopping center.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



5. Mike and Sonia’s apartment is near the shopping center.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



6. We have received only two complaints from customers in the past six months.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



6. We have received only two complaints from customers in the past six months.

Correct

Chapter 5 - Quiz



7. The meeting will be held at Kevin’s home or at Jennifers.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



7. The meeting will be held at Kevin’s home or at Jennifers.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



7. The meeting will be held at Kevin’s home or at Jennifer’s.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



8. My boss office was moved to make way for the Electronics Department.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



8. My boss office was moved to make way for the Electronics Department.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



8. My boss’s office was moved to make way for the Electronics Department.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



9. The contract requires my father-in-laws signature.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



9. The contract requires my father-in-laws signature.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



9. The contract requires my father-in-law’s signature.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



10. All candidates résumés were received well before the deadline.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



10. All candidates résumés were received well before the deadline.

Chapter 5 - Quiz



10. All candidates’ résumés were received well before the deadline.

Chapter 5 - Quiz


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Ch. 5 - 2 Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Objectives Distinguish between possessive nouns and plural nouns. Follow five steps in using the apostrophe