Is Possessive Noun A Proper Noun: 7 Facts You Should Know

In this article, we will be getting to know the answer to the question ‘Is possessive noun a proper noun?’ with the help of various examples and important facts.

A possessive noun is a kind of noun that depicts the belongingness of an individual or a thing. A proper noun is another kind of noun that represents or names a particular and a specific individual, animal, place or an object.

Now let us see a few examples of proper nouns which are possessive as well.

• 1. This is Ramya’s new dress.
• 2. Smith’s dog is white in color while William’s dog is brown in color.
• 3. Priyanka’s test papers are yet not evaluated.
• 4. Vikram’s brother who lives in America called me yesterday.
• 5. This is Ruhi’s favorite watch as it was gifted to her by her father.
• 6. Tirupati’s ladoos are quite tasty and famous.

Now we shall analyze the possessive proper nouns in each and every sentence.

1. This is Ramya’s new dress.

‘Ramya’s’ is the possessive proper noun in the above sentence because it is mentioning the name of a particular person (Ramya) and is also showing the possession of the ‘new dress’ (an object) to Ramya.

2. Smith’s dog is white in color while William’s dog is brown in color.

‘Smith’s’ and ‘William’s’ are the possessive proper noun in this sentence because they are the names of two specific people (Smith and William) and they also show the ownership of the white dog and the brown dog (animals) to Smith and William respectively.

3. Priyanka’s test papers are yet not evaluated.

The possessive proper noun in the above sentence is ‘Priyanka’s’ because it is the name of a particular person (Priyanka) and it also shows the belongingness of the ‘test papers’ (an object) to Priyanka.

4. Vikram’s brother who lives in America called me yesterday.

The possessive proper noun in the above sentence is ‘Vikram’s’ because it is the name of a particular person (Vikram) and it also shows the belongingness of the ‘brother (a person) to Vikram.

5. This is Ruhi’s favorite watch as it was gifted to her by her father.

‘Ruhi’s’ is the possessive proper noun in the above sentence because it is telling us the specific name of a person (Ruhi) and is also showing the ownership of the ‘favorite watch’ (an object) to Ruhi.

6. Tirupati’s ladoos are quite tasty and famous.

‘Tirupati’s’ is the possessive proper noun in the above sentence because it is mentioning the name of a particular place (Tirupati) and it is also showing the possession of the ‘ladoos’ (food – object) to Tirupati.  

Can possessive noun be a proper noun?

The answer to the above question is yes, as a possessive noun can be a proper noun.

Example: John Milton’s Paradise Lost is definitely a master piece in the English Literature.

In this sentence, John Milton’s is a possessive noun as it is showing the possession of the book, Paradise Lost, which means it was John Milton who wrote Paradise Lost. Since John Milton is the specific name of an author (person), it is a proper noun.

Hence, a possessive noun can be a proper noun.

What is a possessive proper noun?

A possessive proper noun is nothing but a noun which indicates belongingness or a connection to a particular person, animal, place or a thing that has a specific name.

Example: This is Delhi’s most famous restaurant.

In this sentence, ‘Delhi’s’ is the possessive proper noun.It is indicating the ownership of the famous restaurant to a particular city ‘Delhi’, which is nothing but a proper noun of place.

Hence, a possessive proper noun is the noun that shows the possession of thing, place or a person to a proper noun.

How possessive nouns are proper nouns?

Possessive nouns are proper nouns when we show possession of a person, thing or an object to a proper noun. Proper nouns become possessive nouns when we add ‘s at the end of them.

Example: The Taj Mahal is Agra’s most famous tourist attraction.

‘Agra’s’ is the possessive proper noun in the above sentence. It is a possessive noun as it is showing the ownership or possession of Taj Mahal. ‘Agra’ is a proper noun as it is the specific name of a city. Since it is both a proper noun and also showing possession, ‘Agra’s’ is a possessive proper noun.

When possessive nouns are proper nouns?

When we attribute some object, place, or a person to a proper noun (that is to a particular individual, place, object) then at that times possessive nouns are proper nouns.

Example: This is my brother’s bag.

In this sentence, ‘brother’s’ is the possessive noun because it is the noun that is showing the ownership of the bag. But it is not a proper noun as the particular name of the person (brother) is not mentioned here. So, ‘brother’s’ can be called a possessive common noun.

Example: I have Ritu’s mobile phone with me.

‘Ritu’s’ is the possessive noun in this sentence because it is showing the possession of the mobile phone. ‘Ritu’ is a proper noun as it is a specific name of a particular person.Since the mobile phone (object) is attributed to Ritu (proper noun) here, ‘Ritu’s’ can be regarded as a possessive proper noun.

Hence possessive nouns are proper nouns, when something or someone is attributed to a proper noun (a specific person, place, or a thing)

How possessive nouns are related with proper nouns?

Possessive nouns are related to proper nouns as both of them are types of nouns. Both of them name individuals, animals, places and objects. Proper nouns can be possessive nouns and possessive nouns can be proper nouns when a particular person, place, or an object is showing or indicating possession or ownership of people or objects.

Example: Ooty’s tea flavors are unique, refreshing and tasty.

‘Ooty’s’ is both a possessive noun and a proper noun in this sentence and hence can be called as a possessive proper noun. It is a proper noun as it is telling the name of a particular place – Ooty. It is a possessive noun as it denotes the belongingness of the unique, refreshing and tasty tea favors (object).

Differences between possessive nouns and proper nouns

Possessive nouns are nouns that exhibit possession or ownership. All types of nouns such as proper nouns, common nouns, material nouns, collective nouns and abstract nouns can be possessive nouns when they show the ownership of something or somebody. But proper nouns can be only proper nouns as other types of nouns such as common nouns, material nouns and abstract nouns cannot become proper nouns.

Example: This is the cloth’s thickness.

In this sentence, ‘cloth’s’ is the possessive noun as it is showing the possession of the thickness. ‘Cloth’ is a material noun, as it is from this various types of garments are made. Hence ‘cloth’s’ is a possessive material noun.

Example: Can you please tell us the way to this boy’s shop?

In this sentence, ‘boy’s’ is the possessive noun as it is showing the ownership of the shop. ‘Boy’ is a common noun, as it is referring to some random unnamed person. Hence ‘boy’s’ is a possessive common noun.

Example: The Tanjore Big Temple is definitely an architectural marvel that I would love to visit.

In this sentence, ‘The Tanjore Big Temple’ is a proper noun as it is referring to or naming a particular place.

Thus, any kind of noun can be possessive nouns when they do the function of showing possession, but proper nouns can only be proper nouns as no other kind of noun can do the function of proper nouns.

Possessive proper noun examples

Do go through the following possessive proper nouns and get to know how they are used in sentences.

• 1. Yuvan’s notebook is missing since yesterday.
• 2. Mumbai’s Wankhade Stadium is quite big and is very famous as well.
• 3. This is Ruhi’s favorite dress which her brother bought from London.
• 4. This is one of the world’s leading music bands.
• 5. Rahul’s father is working as a manager in one of the leading accounting firms.

Possessive proper noun examples with detailed explanations

We shall now identify, understand and examine the possessive proper nouns in all the above sentences.

1. Yuvan’s notebook is missing since yesterday.

‘Yuvan’s’ is the possessive proper noun in the above sentence because it is mentioning the name of a specific person (Yuvan) and is also showing the possession of the ‘missing notebook’ (an object) to Yuvan.

2. Mumbai’s Wankhade Stadium is quite big and is very famous as well.

‘Mumbai’s’ is the possessive proper noun utilized in this sentence because it is mentioning the name of a specific place (Mumbai) and is also showing the possession of the ‘Wankhade Stadium’ (a place) to Mumbai.

3. This is Ruhi’s favorite dress which her brother bought from London.

The possessive proper noun in the above sentence is ‘Ruhi;s’ because it is the name of a particular person (Ruhi) and it also shows the ownership of the ‘favorite dress’ (an object) to Ruhi.

4. This is one of the world’s leading music bands.

The possessive proper noun in the above sentence is ‘world’s’ because it is the name of a particular place (world) and it also shows the ownership of the ‘leading music bands’ (an object) to world.

5. Rahul’s father is working as a manager in one of the leading accounting firms.

‘Rahul’s’ is the possessive proper noun utilized in this sentence because it is mentioning the name of a specific person (Rahul) and is also showing the possession of the ‘father’ (a person) to Rahul.

Conclusion

Thus from the above article we finally got to know the answer to the question ‘is possessive noun a proper noun?’ as yes. And we also saw how, when and why possessive nouns can be proper nouns and proper nouns can be possessive nouns.