Site Moderator TalonRider Posted July 30, 2007 Site Moderator Share Posted July 30, 2007 (edited) Plurals and Possessives The plural form of most nouns is usually represented by adding s or es to the singular. The possessive case is used to indicate a relationship. A possessive pronoun is a word that attributes ownership to someone or something without using a noun. Plurals Rules: The most common ending for a plural is an s added to the singular. report ----> reports committee -> committees manager ---> managers idea ------> ideas Some nouns have a word ending that would make the s difficult or impossible to pronounce. Nouns ending in s, x, ch, sh, or z generally require an es added to the singular. process -------> processes tax -----------> taxes brush ---------> brushes church --------> churches buzz ----------> buzzes Nouns ending in y have two possibilities. If the singular noun ends in y preceded by a consonant, change the y to i and add es. copy ---------> copies disability ---> disabilities liability ----> liabilities If the singular noun ends in y preceded by a vowel, simply add s. attorney ---> attorneys delay ------> delays boy --------> boys Plurals for nouns ending in o can be formed in two ways. If the singular noun ends in o preceded by a vowel, add s. tattoo ----> tattoos ratio -----> ratios portfolio -> portfolios stereo ----> stereos However, if the singular noun ends in o preceded by a consonant, there are several possibilities. Some o nouns add only an s. auto ----> autos ego -----> egos memo ----> memos Some o nouns add es. potato ----> potatoes echo ------> echoes hero ------> heroes Some o nouns are acceptable either way. The first in each pair is the preferred spelling. cargo -------> cargoes, cargos innuendo ----> innuendos, innuendoes. zero --------> zeros, zeroes Musical terms ending in o usually add only s to the singular. alto ----> altos cello ---> cellos soprano -> sopranos piano ---> pianos Nouns ending in f, fe, or ff. Most nouns ending in f combinations add only s to the singular. belief ---> beliefs proof ----> proofs Some f nouns change the f or fe to ve and then add s. knife ----> knives life -----> lives wife -----> wives self -----> selves Some are acceptable either way. Again, the first in each pair in is the preferred spelling. scarf --> scarves, scarfs dwarf --> dwarfs,, dwarves Compound plurals are made plural by using several methods. Solid-word compounds are made plural at the end. toothbrush ---> toothbrushes photocopy ----> photocopies bookshelf ----> bookshelves Compounds that are spaced or hyphenated generally make the most important element plural. leave of absence --> leaves of absence editor-in-chief ---> editors-in-chief father-in-law -----> fathers-in-law Caution: I have two sisters-in-law, not two sister-in-laws. But I went to my sister-in-law's house for Thanksgiving. Compounds with no noun simply make the final element plural. fade-out ------> fade-outs know-it-all ---> Know-it-alls get-together --> get-togethers go-between ----> go-betweens Compounds that have a possessive as the first element make only the final element plural. finder's fee -----> finder's fees traveler's check -> traveler's checks Acronyms and capital letters require only an s to create the plural. three VIPs --> CEOs ---> Ph.D.s --> PTA's Irregular plurals change their spelling completely. mouse ---> mice woman ---> women foot ----> feet A few plurals end in en or ren. ox ----> oxen child -> children Singular nouns and possession. Rules: Any singular noun not ending in s or an s sound adds an apostrophe plus s. lawyer's advice. Arkansas's farmlands Illinois's toll roads Any singular noun that ends in the sound s, x, or z is affected by how it's pronounced. If you add an extra syllable, and an apostrophe plus s. boss's approval witness's testimony quiz's coversheet Phoenix's transportation system If you can't easily pronounce the word with an additional syllable, add only an apostrophe. Ms. Hastings' office Los Angeles' freeways New Orleans' shopping district Caution: It's Bridget Jones' Diary, not Bridget Jones's Diary Plural nouns and possession Rules: Any plural noun with a regular spelling (ending in s or es) adds only an apostrophe for possession. witnesses' testimonies agencies' guidelines United States' allies attorneys' fees All regular plural possessives add an apostrophe plus s. children's books men's suits women's dress department Caution: Always form the plural first and then decide how the possession should be spelled. Incorrect: Toys are located in the children's department. Correct: Toys are located in the children's department. Compound nouns and possession Rules: Singular possessives of any compound noun (solid, spaced, or hyphenated) require an apostrophe plus s. stockbroker's portfolio daughter-in-law's new house. attorney general's office. Plural possessives for compound nouns require you to first form the plural, then: If the plural form ends in s, and an apostrophe only. stockbrokers' proxies vice presidents' votes salesclerks' commissions If the plural form does not end in s, add an apostrophe plus s. daughter-in-law's children presidents-elect's teams Pronouns have their own special form. Do not use apostrophes! my, mine --- your, yours ---- his, her, hers, its ---- our, ours ---- their, theirs ---- whose Caution: Whose is a pronoun, while who's is a contraction for 'who is.' Incorrect: He is the man who's son goes to K-State. Correct: He is the man whose son goes to K-State. Common expressions New Year's resolutions stone's throw arm's length sun's rays company's assets earth's atmosphere. Exercise - Plurals and Possessives Write the possessive forms of the following words. 1. boss assistant (one boss) 2. bosses assistants (several bosses) 3. mother-in-law house 4. people coats (coats of several people) 5. manager report (one manager) 6. managers reports (several managers) Edited August 30, 2011 by TalonRider To clean up coding problem. Link to comment
Site Administrator Graeme Posted July 30, 2007 Site Administrator Share Posted July 30, 2007 Just as an aside, one of the teachers at my boys' school told me that the reason for the "copy" to "copies" behaviour is that the word is supposed to be "copi", but in English words are not allowed to end in "i", so it is changed to a "y". When the word no longer ends in the "i" (such as when it is made plural"), the "i" reappears. Another letter that English words can't end with is "v", which is changed to an "fe" or "f" and hence why the plural of "knife" is "knives". Link to comment
Site Moderator TalonRider Posted August 12, 2007 Author Site Moderator Share Posted August 12, 2007 How is the Jones' pronounced? It strikes me that monosyllabic names ending in s, you must still add the additional syllable in pronounciation. So it sounds like Jones-es. Is this correct? Conner I do believe that would be correct Conner. Jan Link to comment
Site Moderator TalonRider Posted August 12, 2007 Author Site Moderator Share Posted August 12, 2007 (edited) Exercise - Plurals and Possessives Write the possessive forms of the following words. 1. boss assistant (one boss) boss's assistant 2. bosses assistants (several bosses) bosses' assistants 3. mother-in-law house mother-in-law's house 4. people coats (coats of several people) people's coats 5. manager report (one manager) manager's report 6. managers reports (several managers) managers' reports Edited August 30, 2011 by TalonRider To clean up coding problem. Link to comment
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