PrinnySquad  +  578408 Mon, 20 Oct 08 10:42 PM Thank you Grammar Geek for your help. @To All: I have another question and I don't want to post another topic so I will ask here, please help me out. How do you know when to use and when not to use the apostrophe " 's " to specify an object? And how do you use a noun to specify another noun? For example, I know we should use "enemy bases" rather than "enemy's bases", or "cowboy pants" rather than "cowboys' pants". Can you state a general rule here? I also notice that when you use nouns as modifiers for other nouns you should put them in their singular forms. Is it true? Have a good day, people! Best Regards, PrinnySquad PrinnySquad Joined on Thu, Sep 11 2008 New Member 36 Regards, Grammar, Nouns, Apostrophes

	Grammar Geek  +  578583 Tue, 21 Oct 08 01:58 PM Please do start a new thread with a new question. I have split this one for you. When you use a noun as an adjective, you don't use the possessive. What TYPE of a hat? A cowboy hat. If you are answering "Whose?" instead of "What type?" then use the possessive. That cowboy's hat has a bullet hole through the crown. Yes, generally the noun is in the singuar: book store, shoe shop, car dealer. The exception that comes readily to mind is sports. Sports car, sports arena. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,652 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Possessives, Nouns

	PrinnySquad  +  578617 Tue, 21 Oct 08 03:21 PM Thanks, To All: Can you find other instances of modifier nouns in the plural besides "sports"? May be "news" ? P/S: I didn't start a new thread because I feel that this question is closely connected to the above question, but if you do need me to create a new topic, I will. Cheers, PrinnySquad PrinnySquad Plurals, Nouns

	CalifJim  +  578696 Tue, 21 Oct 08 06:03 PM PrinnySquad “Can you find other instances of modifier nouns in the plural besides "sports"? ” It seems to me that there are very few.  I came across "people mover" once -- that sort of "horizontal escalator" found at airports. CJ  CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,380 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Plurals, Nouns