Possessive case worksheet with multiple-choice questions and illustrations for learning English grammar.
Worksheet titled "Possessive case" with 20 multiple-choice questions on using possessive forms in English, featuring illustrations such as a house, car, book, clothes, and people.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Possessive case s´ and ´s - ESL worksheet by joass
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Possessive case s´ and ´s - ESL worksheet by joass
Here is the correct answer for each question, with a clear explanation for each choice.
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1. ______ house is beautiful.
✔ a) John and Mary’s
→ *Explanation:* When two people jointly own something, we add the possessive ('s) only to the last name: “John and Mary’s house” means they share one house.
---
2. ______ sister is very kind.
✔ b) Joanas’ *(Note: This should probably be “Joana’s” — likely a typo in the worksheet)*
→ *Explanation:* Since it's one person (Joana), we use “Joana’s”. If the name were “Joanas” (plural), then “Joanas’” would be correct. But assuming it’s meant to be “Joana”, the correct form is “Joana’s”. However, since option b is “Joanas’”, and if we assume “Joanas” is intended as plural (e.g., multiple Joanas), then it’s technically correct for plural nouns ending in ‘s’. But this is likely an error. Given the options, b) Joanas’ is selected as written — though ideally it should be “Joana’s”.
*(Correction note: In standard English, “Joana’s” is correct for one person. If the name is “Joanas”, then “Joanas’” is correct for plural. But this is confusing — likely a typo.)*
---
3. My ______ car was very expensive.
✔ b) Parents’
→ *Explanation:* “Parents” is plural and ends in ‘s’, so we add just an apostrophe: “Parents’ car” = the car belonging to both parents.
---
4. Have a look at it!! ______ book is very interesting!!
✔ a) Tom’s
→ *Explanation:* Singular noun → add ’s. “Tom’s book” = the book belonging to Tom.
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5. You can buy ______ clothes in that shop.
✔ a) Ladies’
→ *Explanation:* “Ladies” is plural and ends in ‘s’, so we add just an apostrophe: “Ladies’ clothes” = clothes for ladies.
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6. I have met my mother in the ______.
✔ b) Bakers’
→ *Explanation:* “Bakers” is plural and ends in ‘s’, so we use “Bakers’” to mean the shop owned by the bakers. It’s common to say “the baker’s” (singular) or “the bakers’” (plural owners).
*(Note: Option a) “Baker’s” is also commonly used even for plural meaning — but grammatically, since it’s “Bakers” (plural), “Bakers’” is more accurate.)*
---
7. ______ behaviour is not as good as should be.
✔ a) Students’
→ *Explanation:* Plural noun ending in ‘s’ → add apostrophe only. “Students’ behaviour” = the behaviour of the students.
---
8. ______ clothes are on the third floor.
✔ a) Men’s
→ *Explanation:* “Men” is irregular plural. We add ’s to make it possessive: “Men’s clothes”.
---
9. These ______ hands are very big.
✔ b) Boys’
→ *Explanation:* “These” implies plural. So “Boys’ hands” = the hands of the boys.
---
10. Nobody knows ______ secret.
✔ b) Julie’s
→ *Explanation:* Singular person → add ’s. “Julie’s secret”.
---
11. ______ wedding was amazing.
✔ a) Carl and Mary’s
→ *Explanation:* Joint ownership → add ’s only to the last name. They had one wedding together.
---
12. Can you bring the ______ toys please?
✔ a) Babies’
→ *Explanation:* Plural noun ending in ‘s’ → add apostrophe only. “Babies’ toys” = toys belonging to the babies.
---
13. ______ teeth aren’t too big.
✔ a) Mice’s
→ *Explanation:* “Mice” is the plural of “mouse”. To make it possessive, we add ’s: “Mice’s teeth”. (Not “Mices’” — that’s incorrect.)
---
14. I must go to the ______.
✔ a) Butcher’s
→ *Explanation:* Common expression: “the butcher’s” = the butcher’s shop. Even though “butcher” is singular, we use “butcher’s” to refer to the shop.
---
15. ______ house is the biggest house I have ever seen.
✔ a) Charles’s *(or Charles’ — both acceptable, but “Charles’s” is more common in modern usage)*
→ *Explanation:* Singular proper name ending in ‘s’ — you can add ’s or just ’. Most style guides now prefer “Charles’s”. So a) Charles’s is correct.
---
16. Emma is washing her ______ clothes.
✔ a) Children’s
→ *Explanation:* “Children” is irregular plural. Add ’s: “Children’s clothes”.
---
17. ______ horse was sold last week.
✔ a) Sarah’s
→ *Explanation:* Singular name → add ’s. “Sarah’s horse”.
---
18. ______ favourite film is Titanic.
✔ a) Mike and Carol’s
→ *Explanation:* Joint possession → add ’s to the last name. They share the same favorite film.
---
19. The two ______ dog is called Chester.
✔ c) Girls’
→ *Explanation:* “Two girls” → plural → “Girls’ dog” = the dog belonging to the two girls.
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20. In two ______ time, I will be in London.
✔ b) Years’
→ *Explanation:* “Two years” → plural → add apostrophe only: “two years’ time” = the time of two years.
---
## ✔ Final Answer Key:
1. a
2. b *(with note about possible typo)*
3. b
4. a
5. a
6. b
7. a
8. a
9. b
10. b
11. a
12. a
13. a
14. a
15. a
16. a
17. a
18. a
19. c
20. b
---
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or further grammar explanations!
---
1. ______ house is beautiful.
✔ a) John and Mary’s
→ *Explanation:* When two people jointly own something, we add the possessive ('s) only to the last name: “John and Mary’s house” means they share one house.
---
2. ______ sister is very kind.
✔ b) Joanas’ *(Note: This should probably be “Joana’s” — likely a typo in the worksheet)*
→ *Explanation:* Since it's one person (Joana), we use “Joana’s”. If the name were “Joanas” (plural), then “Joanas’” would be correct. But assuming it’s meant to be “Joana”, the correct form is “Joana’s”. However, since option b is “Joanas’”, and if we assume “Joanas” is intended as plural (e.g., multiple Joanas), then it’s technically correct for plural nouns ending in ‘s’. But this is likely an error. Given the options, b) Joanas’ is selected as written — though ideally it should be “Joana’s”.
*(Correction note: In standard English, “Joana’s” is correct for one person. If the name is “Joanas”, then “Joanas’” is correct for plural. But this is confusing — likely a typo.)*
---
3. My ______ car was very expensive.
✔ b) Parents’
→ *Explanation:* “Parents” is plural and ends in ‘s’, so we add just an apostrophe: “Parents’ car” = the car belonging to both parents.
---
4. Have a look at it!! ______ book is very interesting!!
✔ a) Tom’s
→ *Explanation:* Singular noun → add ’s. “Tom’s book” = the book belonging to Tom.
---
5. You can buy ______ clothes in that shop.
✔ a) Ladies’
→ *Explanation:* “Ladies” is plural and ends in ‘s’, so we add just an apostrophe: “Ladies’ clothes” = clothes for ladies.
---
6. I have met my mother in the ______.
✔ b) Bakers’
→ *Explanation:* “Bakers” is plural and ends in ‘s’, so we use “Bakers’” to mean the shop owned by the bakers. It’s common to say “the baker’s” (singular) or “the bakers’” (plural owners).
*(Note: Option a) “Baker’s” is also commonly used even for plural meaning — but grammatically, since it’s “Bakers” (plural), “Bakers’” is more accurate.)*
---
7. ______ behaviour is not as good as should be.
✔ a) Students’
→ *Explanation:* Plural noun ending in ‘s’ → add apostrophe only. “Students’ behaviour” = the behaviour of the students.
---
8. ______ clothes are on the third floor.
✔ a) Men’s
→ *Explanation:* “Men” is irregular plural. We add ’s to make it possessive: “Men’s clothes”.
---
9. These ______ hands are very big.
✔ b) Boys’
→ *Explanation:* “These” implies plural. So “Boys’ hands” = the hands of the boys.
---
10. Nobody knows ______ secret.
✔ b) Julie’s
→ *Explanation:* Singular person → add ’s. “Julie’s secret”.
---
11. ______ wedding was amazing.
✔ a) Carl and Mary’s
→ *Explanation:* Joint ownership → add ’s only to the last name. They had one wedding together.
---
12. Can you bring the ______ toys please?
✔ a) Babies’
→ *Explanation:* Plural noun ending in ‘s’ → add apostrophe only. “Babies’ toys” = toys belonging to the babies.
---
13. ______ teeth aren’t too big.
✔ a) Mice’s
→ *Explanation:* “Mice” is the plural of “mouse”. To make it possessive, we add ’s: “Mice’s teeth”. (Not “Mices’” — that’s incorrect.)
---
14. I must go to the ______.
✔ a) Butcher’s
→ *Explanation:* Common expression: “the butcher’s” = the butcher’s shop. Even though “butcher” is singular, we use “butcher’s” to refer to the shop.
---
15. ______ house is the biggest house I have ever seen.
✔ a) Charles’s *(or Charles’ — both acceptable, but “Charles’s” is more common in modern usage)*
→ *Explanation:* Singular proper name ending in ‘s’ — you can add ’s or just ’. Most style guides now prefer “Charles’s”. So a) Charles’s is correct.
---
16. Emma is washing her ______ clothes.
✔ a) Children’s
→ *Explanation:* “Children” is irregular plural. Add ’s: “Children’s clothes”.
---
17. ______ horse was sold last week.
✔ a) Sarah’s
→ *Explanation:* Singular name → add ’s. “Sarah’s horse”.
---
18. ______ favourite film is Titanic.
✔ a) Mike and Carol’s
→ *Explanation:* Joint possession → add ’s to the last name. They share the same favorite film.
---
19. The two ______ dog is called Chester.
✔ c) Girls’
→ *Explanation:* “Two girls” → plural → “Girls’ dog” = the dog belonging to the two girls.
---
20. In two ______ time, I will be in London.
✔ b) Years’
→ *Explanation:* “Two years” → plural → add apostrophe only: “two years’ time” = the time of two years.
---
## ✔ Final Answer Key:
1. a
2. b *(with note about possible typo)*
3. b
4. a
5. a
6. b
7. a
8. a
9. b
10. b
11. a
12. a
13. a
14. a
15. a
16. a
17. a
18. a
19. c
20. b
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Let me know if you’d like a printable version or further grammar explanations!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of possessive s worksheet.
