As a language expert with a deep understanding of English grammar and usage, I'm here to clarify the rules and nuances of forming plurals in English. The formation of plurals can be quite complex due to the language's evolution and the influence of various linguistic roots. Let's delve into the intricacies of pluralizing nouns, specifically focusing on the word "class."
As for the plural form of "class," it is indeed "classes." This is a straightforward example of a regular plural formation where you simply add an "es" to the end of the word when it ends in "ss." However, when it comes to possessive forms, English grammar has a different rule. The possessive form of the plural noun "classes" is made by adding just an apostrophe (') after the "s" that signifies plurality, resulting in "classes'." This is because the "s" at the end of the word already indicates that it is plural, so the apostrophe alone is used to indicate possession.
The rule you've mentioned is partially correct but requires a bit of refinement. Here's a more accurate way to state the rule for possessive forms:
- For plural nouns that end in "s," you add an apostrophe (') after the "s" to form the possessive.
- For singular nouns, you add an apostrophe and an "s" ('s) to form the possessive.
This rule applies to most nouns in English, but there are exceptions, especially with irregular plurals and certain proper nouns.
Now, let's address the misconception that might arise from the rule you've mentioned. It's not that the plural form of nouns ending in "s," "es," or "ies" is formed by simply adding an apostrophe. The plural is formed by adding "s" or "es" to the singular form, and then the possessive is indicated by an apostrophe. The confusion might stem from the fact that the possessive form of plural nouns that already end in "s" do not add an additional "s"; they use just an apostrophe.
For example:
- The singular noun "bus" becomes "buses" in the plural and "buses'" in the possessive.
- The singular noun "church" becomes "churches" in the plural and "churches'" in the possessive.
- The singular noun "series" (which is already plural) has the possessive form as "series'" without adding an additional "s."
It's also worth noting that some nouns have irregular plurals that do not follow the standard "s" or "es" pattern. For these, the possessive form is still formed by adding an apostrophe after the irregular plural form. For example:
- The plural of "man" is "men," and the possessive is "men's."
- The plural of "child" is "children," and the possessive is "children's."
In summary, the plural form of "class" is "classes," and its possessive form is "classes'." The general rule for forming possessives in English is to add an apostrophe after the "s" for plural nouns and an apostrophe plus an "s" for singular nouns. Understanding these rules and their exceptions is crucial for mastering English grammar and usage.
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It is classes', which sounds the same as the singular class's. I would have thought this was a general rule for plural nouns ending -s', -es' or -ies'. Here's the rule: For plural nouns that end in S, only add the apostrophe. For singular nouns, add apostrophe-S.read more >>