How do you use a plural possessive in a sentence?

A plural possessive noun is a plural noun (or two or more nouns) that indicates that something in the sentence belongs to them.

A plural possessive noun is indicated by an apostrophe at the end of a plural noun ending with an s (s'), or an apostrophe s ('s) at the end of a plural noun that doesn't end with s.

The plural possessive normally comes before the noun for which it indicates possession anywhere that the noun appears in the sentence.

Examples:

• The Martins' boys are twins. (the boys are the subject of the sentence)
• The twins are the Martins' boys. (the boys are the direct object of the linking verb 'are', therefore functioning as the predicate nominative)
• Their grandfather bought bicycles for the Martins'boys (object of the preposition 'for')

A possessive noun (singular or plural) may come before modifying Words that precede the noun.

Example: The birds' shabby old nest from last year needed some refurbishing. (the nest of the birds)

Examples of irregular plural possessive nouns that do not end with an s:

• A group of parents painted the equipment on the children's playground.
• The farmer dragged the oxen's yoke from the barn.

When the nouns of a compound subject or object share the same thing, use just one apostrophe for the last noun of the compound group:

Example: Jeff and Joan's dog is a malamute.

When the nouns of a compound subject or object differ in ownership, then both nouns are possessive:

Example: Jeff's and Joan's dogs both won prizes.