DTW GED PREP

Using Apostrophes to Show Possession

Correct use of apostrophes is an important aspect of standard written English. On the GED® Reasoning Through Language Arts test, you may encounter questions that assess your understanding of possessive forms. Below is a guide to forming possessives correctly.

1. Possessives of Singular and Plural Nouns Not Ending in “s”

To form the possessive of a singular or plural noun that does not end in s, add ’s (apostrophe and s).

Examples:

• The boy’s desk (desk belonging to one boy)
• The women’s department (department belonging to multiple women)
• Picasso’s paintings (paintings by Picasso)

2. Possessives of Plural Nouns Ending in “s”

For plural nouns that do end in s, form the possessive by adding only an apostrophe.

Examples:

• The teachers’ association (association of multiple teachers)
• The Beatles’ albums (albums by the Beatles)

3. Possessives of Singular Nouns Ending in “s”

For singular nouns ending in s (or a similar sound), the general rule is to add ’s. However, there is variation based on pronunciation and style.

Examples (standard form):

• The bus’s tires
• Yeats’s poetry
• The fox’s paw
• Dickens’s novels

Note: If the possessive sounds awkward or difficult to pronounce (especially in formal writing), some writers use only an apostrophe. Choose one style and be consistent throughout.

4. Compound Nouns

When using a compound noun, make the last word possessive.

Examples:

• Her sister-in-law’s birthday
• The court of law’s rule
• My great-grandfather’s coat

5. Joint Possession vs. Separate Possession

A. Joint Possession

When two or more people share ownership of the same thing, add the possessive form (’s) only to the final noun.

Examples:

• Johnson & Johnson’s laboratory (the lab belongs to both)
• Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals (they collaborated)

B. Separate Possession

When two or more people own things individually, each name should be possessive.

Examples:

• Keats’s and Shelley’s poetry (each has distinct works)
• Beethoven’s and Mozart’s music (not a collaboration)

1.11 APOSTROPHES AND POSSESSIVE NOUNS

Directions: Rewrite the underlined nouns in each sentence so that they show the correct possessive form.

1. In Italian, Florence name is Firenze and Venice name is Venezia.
2. My sister and I went to several readings that featured T. S. Eliot poetry.
3. My father and my brother just started a new business and named it Bailey and Bailey Art Supplies.
4. David wrote an irate letter to the newspaper about the editor in chief column.
5. I could not find Chris new watch in the bureau where he said he put it.
6. The ceremonies leaders marched into the room one after the other.

1.11 APOSTROPHES AND POSSESSIVE NOUNS

✅ Note: If you meant more than one ceremony (plural), it would be ceremonies’ leaders. But from the sentence, singular seems intended.