ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Possessive of singular noun that ends in S

Bokeh — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 21:31:15 GMT

Tanit wrote:
To make the possessive form of a SINGULAR noun that ends in -s, some style guides say to add just an apostrophe ('); others say you should add an apostrophe and s ('s). Some say that either way is correct.

I find older grammar books, for example "A Modern English Grammar" (Oxford Unifersity Press 1965, 21 Shillings), goes with "Dickens's novel" form whereas later grammar books say either is acceptable, which points towards a dumbing down of standards over the last 40 years.

Re: Possessive of singular noun that ends in S

Tanit — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:19:36 GMT

Anonymous wrote:

what's the rule in english grammar for forming the possessive of a singular noun that ends in s?

When I was in high school, I was taught to add only an apostrophe and not an "s". Only later did I discover that both forms are possible.

Read:

" To make the possessive form of a SINGULAR noun that ends in -s, some style guides say to add just an apostrophe ('); others say you should add an apostrophe and s ('s). Some say that either way is correct.
The best answer: when dealing with SINGULAR nouns, find out what the expectations are wherever you're writing and go by that. In most cases, you can just ask your teacher what he or she prefers. (...)
So, to give a couple of examples...
For "nucleus" (singular noun ending in -s), write is as:
nucleus' or nucleus's
depending on the rules where you're writing. "

on this page, second issue.

And, from the BBC website:

" However, if the singular noun ends in âsâ as in your example, Everson, you can either just add an apostrophe (â) or apostrophe 's' (âs):
- 'All of Dickensâ novels have now been adapted for television.'
- 'All of Dickensâs novels have now been adapted for television.'
Note that these spellings are pronounced differently. If you simply add an apostrophe, the pronunciation does not change, but if you add apostrophe 's' (âs), the possessive is pronounced /iz/.
With singular nouns ending in double 's' (...) I think it is more normal to add apostrophe 's' (âs) because the spelling with apostrophe s then indicates the pronunciation required:
- 'The bossâs secretary resigned.'
- 'The princessâs diamonds were worth two million pounds.' "

Re: Possessive of singular noun that ends in S

Doll — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:48:34 GMT

If Blady were plural ,Bladys, using 's as you used Bladys' ring... would be ok.

Re: Possessive of singular noun that ends in S

Carrot — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 07:53:02 GMT

Grammar Geek wrote:
Gladys's ring, etc.

I dare object... I think it is Bladys' ring...

What about that?

Re: Possessive of singular noun that ends in S

Grammar Geek — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 04:58:02 GMT

Please don't put a new, unrelated question on the end of a post that is three years old.

For the most part, it will still take 's.

Gladys's ring, etc.

There are exceptions for Jesus and a few other ancients.

Possessive of singular noun that ends in S

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 21:22:53 GMT

what's the rule in english grammar for forming the possessive of a singular noun that ends in s?