Plural and Possessive Nouns — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which sentence is written correctly?
A) The mices' tails are long.
B) The mice's tails are long.
C) The mices's tails are long.
D) The mice tails are long.
Mice is an irregular plural, so we add apostrophe s: mice's tails is correct in Grade 3.
2. Which shows the cages of several rabbits?
A) the rabbit's cages
B) the rabbits' cages
C) the rabbits's cages
D) the rabbits cages
Regular plural nouns ending in s take only an apostrophe: rabbits' cages in Grade 3.
3. Which shows the uniforms of the teachers?
A) the teacher's uniforms
B) the teachers' uniforms
C) the teachers's uniforms
D) the teachers uniforms
Regular plurals ending in s add only an apostrophe to form a plural possessive noun.
4. Which shows the cars of several families?
A) the familys' cars
B) the families' cars
C) the family's cars
D) the families cars
Family becomes families (y to ies), then add an apostrophe for the plural possessive form.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. The birds' nests were high in the oak tree. (plural: birds)
Regular plural nouns ending in s take only an apostrophe to show plural possession.
2. The mice's footprints were tiny in the snow. (plural: mice)
Mice is an irregular plural not ending in s, so add apostrophe s to show possession.
3. The players' voices carried across the field. (plural: players)
Regular plural nouns ending in s need only an apostrophe after the s in Grade 3.
4. The children's games filled the playroom. (plural: children)
Children is irregular and does not end in s, so we add apostrophe s for the possessive.
5. The cooks' hats hung on the hooks. (plural: cooks)
For regular plurals ending in s, place the apostrophe after the final s to show ownership.