Possessives practice questions

Possessives questions

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1. 1PossessivesFoundation

   The two _____ research appears in the journal's spring issue. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The two _____ research appears in the journal's spring issue. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Ascientist's'scientist's'
   • Bscientistsscientists
   • Cscientist'sscientist's
   • Dscientists'scientists'
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   Answer: scientists'scientists'

   The research belongs to two scientists, so a plural possessive is needed: plural "scientists" followed by an apostrophe.The research belongs to two scientists, so a plural possessive is needed: plural "scientists" followed by an apostrophe.

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2. 2PossessivesFoundation

   The _____ nesting sites are monitored each spring by a team of volunteers. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The _____ nesting sites are monitored each spring by a team of volunteers. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Aheron'sheron's
   • Bherons'herons'
   • Cheronsherons
   • Dherons'sherons's
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   Answer: herons'herons'

   More than one heron shares the sites, so the plural possessive is required: the plural "herons" followed by an apostrophe.More than one heron shares the sites, so the plural possessive is required: the plural "herons" followed by an apostrophe.

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3. 3PossessivesStandard

   The three _____ signatures appear at the foot of the agreement. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The three _____ signatures appear at the foot of the agreement. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Awitnesseswitnesses
   • Bwitness'switness's
   • Cwitnesses'switnesses's
   • Dwitnesses'witnesses'
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   Answer: witnesses'witnesses'

   "Three" fixes the number: the signatures belong to more than one witness, so the plural possessive applies — plural "witnesses" followed by an apostrophe."Three" fixes the number: the signatures belong to more than one witness, so the plural possessive applies — plural "witnesses" followed by an apostrophe.

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4. 4PossessivesStandard

   The two _____ accounts of the same night differ in several details. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The two _____ accounts of the same night differ in several details. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Awitnesseswitnesses
   • Bwitnesses'switnesses's
   • Cwitnesses'witnesses'
   • Dwitness'switness's
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   Answer: witnesses'witnesses'

   "Two" fixes the number: the accounts belong to more than one witness, so the plural possessive applies — plural "witnesses" followed by an apostrophe."Two" fixes the number: the accounts belong to more than one witness, so the plural possessive applies — plural "witnesses" followed by an apostrophe.

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5. 5PossessivesStandard

   The four _____ instruments are stored in a single case. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The four _____ instruments are stored in a single case. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Aplayersplayers
   • Bplayer'splayer's
   • Cplayers'splayers's
   • Dplayers'players'
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   Answer: players'players'

   "Four" fixes the number: the instruments belong to more than one player, so the plural possessive applies."Four" fixes the number: the instruments belong to more than one player, so the plural possessive applies.

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6. 6PossessivesStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The three ______ testimony agreed on every detail but the time.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The three ______ testimony agreed on every detail but the time.

   • Awitness'switness's
   • Bwitnesseswitnesses
   • Cwitnesses'switnesses's
   • Dwitnesses'witnesses'
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   Answer: witnesses'witnesses'

   Three witnesses is plural, and a plural already ending in s takes the apostrophe after the s. "Witness's" is the singular possessive, "witnesses" is a plural with no possessive at all, and "witnesses's" doubles the ending.Three witnesses is plural, and a plural already ending in s takes the apostrophe after the s. "Witness's" is the singular possessive, "witnesses" is a plural with no possessive at all, and "witnesses's" doubles the ending.

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7. 7PossessivesStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Both ______ boards voted to close the line.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Both ______ boards voted to close the line.

   • Acompany'scompany's
   • Bcompanyscompanys
   • Ccompanies'companies'
   • Dcompanies'scompanies's
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   Answer: companies'companies'

   "Both" makes the noun plural, and the plural of company is companies, which already ends in s, so the possessive takes only an apostrophe. "Company's" is the singular possessive, which contradicts "both"."Both" makes the noun plural, and the plural of company is companies, which already ends in s, so the possessive takes only an apostrophe. "Company's" is the singular possessive, which contradicts "both".

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8. 8PossessivesStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?All four ______ hulls were repainted before the season.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? All four ______ hulls were repainted before the season.

   • Aboats'boats'
   • Bboat'sboat's
   • Cboatsboats
   • Dboats'sboats's
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   Answer: boats'boats'

   "All four" makes the noun plural, and a plural ending in s takes the apostrophe after the s. "Boat's" would be one boat, which contradicts the four, and "boats" alone shows no possession at all."All four" makes the noun plural, and a plural ending in s takes the apostrophe after the s. "Boat's" would be one boat, which contradicts the four, and "boats" alone shows no possession at all.

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9. 9PossessivesStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Both ______ reports were published in March.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Both ______ reports were published in March.

   • Acommittee'scommittee's
   • Bcommitteescommittees
   • Ccommittees'committees'
   • Dcommittees'scommittees's
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   Answer: committees'committees'

   "Both" requires the plural committees, and a plural already ending in s takes an apostrophe with nothing after it. "Committee's" is singular and contradicts "both"."Both" requires the plural committees, and a plural already ending in s takes an apostrophe with nothing after it. "Committee's" is singular and contradicts "both".

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10. 10PossessivesStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The ______ handwriting is almost illegible in the later volumes.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ______ handwriting is almost illegible in the later volumes.

    • Adiaristsdiarists
    • Bdiarists'sdiarists's
    • Cdiarist'sdiarist's
    • Ddiarists'diarists'
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    Answer: diarist'sdiarist's

    A single diarist keeps the volumes, so the singular possessive takes an apostrophe before the s. "Diarists" shows no possession, and the remaining forms are plural possessives, which the singular subject rules out.A single diarist keeps the volumes, so the singular possessive takes an apostrophe before the s. "Diarists" shows no possession, and the remaining forms are plural possessives, which the singular subject rules out.

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11. 11PossessivesStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The two ______ accounts of the accident differ on the time.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The two ______ accounts of the accident differ on the time.

    • Awitness'switness's
    • Bwitnesseswitnesses
    • Cwitnesses'witnesses'
    • Dwitnesses'switnesses's
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    Answer: witnesses'witnesses'

    "Two" makes the noun plural, and a plural already ending in s takes an apostrophe with nothing after it. "Witness's" is singular and contradicts "two"."Two" makes the noun plural, and a plural already ending in s takes an apostrophe with nothing after it. "Witness's" is singular and contradicts "two".

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12. 12PossessivesStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Both ______ signatures appear at the foot of the deed.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Both ______ signatures appear at the foot of the deed.

    • Abrother'sbrother's
    • Bbrothersbrothers
    • Cbrothers'brothers'
    • Dbrothers'sbrothers's
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    Answer: brothers'brothers'

    "Both" makes the noun plural, and a plural already ending in s takes an apostrophe with nothing after it. "Brother's" is singular and contradicts "both"."Both" makes the noun plural, and a plural already ending in s takes an apostrophe with nothing after it. "Brother's" is singular and contradicts "both".

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13. 13PossessivesChallenge

    The society published _____ findings alongside two other _____ reports. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The society published _____ findings alongside two other _____ reports. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

    • Ait's ... societiesit's ... societies
    • Bits ... society'sits ... society's
    • Cits ... societies'its ... societies'
    • Dit's ... societies'it's ... societies'
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    Answer: its ... societies'its ... societies'

    The first blank needs the possessive "its", which takes no apostrophe; "it's" means "it is". The second refers to reports belonging to more than one society, which is the plural possessive "societies'".The first blank needs the possessive "its", which takes no apostrophe; "it's" means "it is". The second refers to reports belonging to more than one society, which is the plural possessive "societies'".

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