Hello there! I'm a language enthusiast with a deep understanding of English grammar and possessive forms. I'm here to help you with your question regarding the possessive form of the word "country."
When we talk about possessive forms in English, we're referring to a way of showing ownership or a relationship between two entities. In the case of "country," we need to consider whether we're talking about a singular country or multiple countries.

Step 1: English Answer

The possessive form of a singular noun, like "country," is typically made by adding an apostrophe followed by an "s" ('s). This indicates that something belongs to or is associated with that singular noun. For example, if we're talking about the flag of a specific country, we might say "the country's flag." Here, "country's" is the possessive form, showing that the flag belongs to the country.

However, English grammar can be a bit tricky when it comes to possessives, especially with words that end in "s." Some style guides recommend adding only an apostrophe (') after the "s" when forming the possessive of singular nouns that already end in "s." For instance, "James's book" to show possession by James. Others might argue that it's acceptable to add an additional "s" after the apostrophe ('s), resulting in "James' book." Both forms are widely accepted, though the former is often considered more formal.

Now, when we're dealing with plural nouns, which are more than one entity, the possessive form is a bit different. For plural nouns that already end in "s," we simply add an apostrophe (') at the end to form the possessive. So, if we're talking about more than one country, the possessive form would be "countries'." This is because the "s" at the end of "countries" already indicates plurality, and the apostrophe alone shows possession.

Let's look at some examples to clarify:

- Singular Country: The country's culture is rich and diverse.
- Plural Countries: The countries' combined efforts led to the treaty's success.

It's important to note that the context in which you're using the possessive form can also influence which form is more appropriate. For instance, in formal writing, you might lean towards using "James's" for clarity, while in informal writing or speech, "James'" might be more common.

Step 2: Divider

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Country's is the possessive of country, countries' is the possessive of countries.read more >>