How to Use Plurals and Possessives in Writing
Use the plural form to indicate more than 1 of something., Use the possessive form to indicate ownership of something., Know that there are exceptions to the rules.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use the plural form to indicate more than 1 of something.
For example, "I installed 1 door of the 2 doors I bought." The plural "doors" indicates that more than 1 door was purchased. -
Step 2: Use the possessive form to indicate ownership of something.
For example, "The boy's dog chased the girls down the street." The possessive "boy's" shows that the boy owns the dog that chased the girls.
Add an apostrophe and an “s” to change a word into the possessive form of that word. , Most words will follow the basic guidelines for transforming a word into a plural or possessive form.
However, there are some words that do not follow the rules.
It takes time and practice to identify if a word is an exception.
Having a quality dictionary is helpful in these situations. -
Step 3: Know that there are exceptions to the rules.
Detailed Guide
For example, "I installed 1 door of the 2 doors I bought." The plural "doors" indicates that more than 1 door was purchased.
For example, "The boy's dog chased the girls down the street." The possessive "boy's" shows that the boy owns the dog that chased the girls.
Add an apostrophe and an “s” to change a word into the possessive form of that word. , Most words will follow the basic guidelines for transforming a word into a plural or possessive form.
However, there are some words that do not follow the rules.
It takes time and practice to identify if a word is an exception.
Having a quality dictionary is helpful in these situations.
About the Author
Carolyn Hall
A passionate writer with expertise in practical skills topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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