Which Is Correct, “Sons” Or “Son's”

Which Is Correct, “Sons” Or “Son’s”

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The correct usage depends on the context: “Sons” is the plural form of “son,” whale “son’s” is the possessive form of “son.”

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Key Takeaways:

  • “Sons” is the plural form of “son,” used to refer to multiple male children.
  • “Son’s” is the possessive form of “son,” used to show ownership or belonging to one son.
  • To form the possessive form of:
  • For singular nouns, add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s).
  • For plural nouns ending in “s,” add only an apostrophe (‘).
  • For plural nouns not ending in “s,” add an apostrophe and “s” (‘s).

When Do I Use “Sons”?

When you’re talking about more than one male child, use “sons.“ It’s a simple way to say you have multiple boys.

Here are some examples:

  • My two sons are playing soccer in the backyard.
  • The farmer’s three sons helped with the harvest.
  • Toheeb’s sons are all grown up now.
  • The king’s five sons fought for the throne.
  • My neighbor’s sons are always making noise.

“Sons” is always plural, you don’t need to add an apostrophe to it to show ownership. Let’s look at some incorrect examples: “The son’s are playing outside.”

In this incorrect example, an apostrophe was added to “sons” even though it’s already plural, which is a common mistake. The correct sentence is: “The sons are playing outside.”

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When Do I Use “Son’s”?

Use “son’s” to show that something belongs to one son. Here are some examples of using “son’s” correctly in sentences:

  • My son’s favorite color is blue.”
  • “I attended my son’s graduation ceremony.”
  • “This is my son’s “
  • “We celebrated my son’s birthday last weekend.”
  • “I borrowed my son’s book for my class.”

We add an apostrophe (‘) and an “s” to a singular noun to show possession.

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What’s The General Rule For Forming Possessives?

A possessive noun is a noun that shows ownership or a relationship between one noun and another. It indicates that something belongs to someone or something.

Here’s how to form possessives: For singular nouns, add an apostrophe (‘) and an “s” to the end of the word:

  • boy’s toy
  • cat’s bowl
  • dog’s bone

And, for plural nouns that end in “s”, add only an apostrophe (‘) to the end of the term.

  • boys’ toys
  • cats’ bowls
  • dogs’ bones

Also, for plural nouns that don’t end in “s”, add an apostrophe (‘) and an “s” to the end of the word:’

  • children’s books
  • men’s shoes
  • women’s hats

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