Question

My name is Francis. How do I write my name as a possessive noun?

Answer 1

Hint: The possessive of a noun is formed when we add only an apostrophe when the noun ends in letter ‘s’, and by adding both an apostrophe and the letter ‘s’ when it ends in a letter that is other than ‘s’.
Example: The lawyers’ exam is difficult.
Example: The children’s games are fun.

Complete answer:
Let us discuss what will be the possessive of the noun “Francis”. The possessive of a noun or a possessive noun is written to refer to attributes of belongingness or possession. Example: If a bag belongs to Dave, instead of referring to that bag as “the bag which belongs to Dave” we will use the possessive noun “Dave’s bag”.

Example: Can you please pass me the bag that belongs to Dave? (Incorrect)
Example: Can you please pass me Dave’s bag? (Correct)

Accordingly to the rule mentioned in the hint, since the noun ends with a letter ‘s’, therefore the possessive noun of the same will be Francis’.

Note: A noun is a very vast element of English grammar. It is classified as common nouns, proper nouns, concrete nouns, abstract nouns and collective nouns.

Let us briefly have a look at the above mentioned types of nouns.
i) Common noun: Refers to people or things in general sense. Example: Girl, book, city, Bus etc.
ii) Proper noun:Refers to people or things in specific. Example: Stephen, London, etc.
iii) Concrete noun: Refers to people or things that one can sense physically. Example: rainbow, ice, cream etc.
iv) Abstract noun: Refers to people or things that we can’t sense physically. Example: motherhood, sadness, humour etc.
v) Collective noun: Refers to people or things in groups. Example: family, audience, team etc.