Irregular possessive nouns are nouns that do not follow the usual plural rules, so their possessive forms can be confusing for English learners.
In this article, you will learn what irregular possessive nouns are, how to form them correctly, and how to avoid common mistakes with clear rules and examples.
Irregular possessive nouns are irregular plural nouns that show ownership.
Unlike regular plural nouns (boys, girls), irregular plural nouns:
- do not end in -s
- change spelling completely (child → children, man → men)
When these nouns show possession, they follow special possessive rules.
👉 To review basic possessive forms, see
Possessive Nouns: Definition, Rules, and Examples
How to Form Irregular Possessive Nouns
There are two simple rules:
✅ Rule 1: Irregular plural nouns that do NOT end in -s
Add ’s
Examples:
- children → children’s
- men → men’s
- women → women’s
- people → people’s
✅ Rule 2: Irregular plural nouns that end in -s
Add only an apostrophe (’)
Examples:
- mice → mice’s ❌ (incorrect – does not end in s)
- species → species’ ✅
- series → series’ ✅
Examples of Irregular Possessive Nouns
✅ Table: Irregular Possessive Nouns
| Singular | Plural | Possessive Form | Example |
| child | children | children’s | children’s toys |
| man | men | men’s | men’s shoes |
| woman | women | women’s | women’s rights |
| person | people | people’s | people’s choice |
| mouse | mice | mice’s | mice’s nests |
| goose | geese | geese’s | geese’s feathers |
👉 To understand why these plurals are irregular, read
Irregular Plural Nouns – Learn Patterns to Remember the Tricky Ones
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ children’ toys
✅ children’s toys
❌ people choice
✅ people’s choice
❌ men shoe
✅ men’s shoes
💡 Remember:
If the plural form does not end in -s, always add ’s.
Conclusion
Irregular possessive nouns follow clear rules once you understand their plural forms. By remembering whether the plural noun ends in -s or not, you can form the possessive correctly every time.
Practice these forms regularly to use them confidently in both spoken and written English.
FAQs
Do irregular possessive nouns always end in ’s?
No.
They end in ’s only if the plural form does not end in -s.
Can regular plural nouns be irregular possessive nouns?
No.
Regular plural nouns (boys, cats) are not irregular possessive nouns.
Is “people’s” a correct possessive noun?
Yes.
People is an irregular plural noun, so people’s is correct.
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