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What does plural possessive mean?

Scarlett Gonzales | 2023-06-08 23:04:24 | page views:1553
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Ava Thompson

Studied at MIT, Lives in Cambridge.
Hello there! As an expert in the field of English grammar, I'm here to help you understand the concept of plural possessive. The possessive case in English is used to indicate ownership or a relationship between two entities. When we are dealing with plural nouns, the rules for forming possessives can differ slightly from those for singular nouns.

In English, the singular possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe followed by an "s" ('s) to the end of the noun. For example, if we have the singular noun "dog," its possessive form would be "dog's." This indicates that something belongs to the dog.

Plural possessive, on the other hand, can be a bit more complex due to the different ways in which plurals are formed in English. Here's a breakdown of the rules:


1. Plural Nouns Ending in "s": When a plural noun already ends in an "s," we simply add an apostrophe at the end to make it possessive. This is because the "s" at the end of the word already indicates plurality, so adding another "s" would be redundant. For example:
- Buses (plural of bus) becomes buses' (plural possessive).
- Countries (plural of country) becomes countries' (plural possessive).


2. Plural Nouns Not Ending in "s": If a plural noun does not end in an "s," we add an apostrophe and an "s" to form the possessive. This is because the noun does not have an "s" to indicate plurality, so we need to add one. For example:
- Children (plural of child) becomes children's (plural possessive).
- Men (plural of man) becomes men's (plural possessive).

It's important to note that these rules apply to regular plurals. There are exceptions with irregular plurals, which do not follow the same pattern. For example, the plural of "mouse" is "mice," and the possessive form would be "mice's."

Additionally, the possessive form is not always used to show ownership. It can also indicate a relationship or a connection between two entities. For instance, "the boss's office" could mean the office belonging to the boss, or it could simply mean the office where the boss works.

Misuse of possessive forms is a common error, so it's crucial to understand these rules to ensure clear and accurate communication. Remember, the key to forming plural possessives is to consider whether the noun ends in an "s" and to add the appropriate punctuation to indicate possession.

Now, let's move on to the translation of this explanation into Chinese.


2024-05-13 07:05:09

Charlotte Henderson

Studied at the University of Tokyo, Lives in Tokyo, Japan.
To make a singular noun possessive, add an apostrophe and an --s.-- This applies to plural nouns that do not end with an --s--, like children - children's and men - men's. When making plural possessive nouns, add only an apostrophe if the noun ends with an --s--, like buses' and countries'.
2023-06-12 23:04:24

Harper Woods

QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
To make a singular noun possessive, add an apostrophe and an --s.-- This applies to plural nouns that do not end with an --s--, like children - children's and men - men's. When making plural possessive nouns, add only an apostrophe if the noun ends with an --s--, like buses' and countries'.
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