I have a question that I need help with...fast. (I am a non - native English speaker)
Is it possible to say " I have a doctor appointment" instead of using the form " I have a doctor´s appointment". The use of possessive s is a bit confusing. I hope that some one here could help me.
Thank you very much in advance,
regards,
Eric
Is it possible to say " I have a doctor appointment" instead of using the form " I have a doctor´s appointment". The use of possessive s is a bit confusing. I hope that some one here could help me.
Thank you very much in advance,
regards,
Eric
It should be doctor's.
I can see how the possessive could be confusing if you are only thinking about it from your side, but don't forget that the doctor also has an appointment at that time - with you.
I can see how the possessive could be confusing if you are only thinking about it from your side, but don't forget that the doctor also has an appointment at that time - with you.
Hmmm. The responses here surprised me because "I have a doctor appointment" does not sound "wrong" to me -- I would be just as likely to say "doctor apppointment" as "doctor's appointment". Does anyone else agree with me? Maybe it's a U.S./U.K. difference? Or am I just weird? [:^)]
How about "I have a dentist appointment"? I might either say it that way, or say "I have a dental appointment." Is anyone going to make a case for "I have a dentist's appointment"?
How about "I have a dentist appointment"? I might either say it that way, or say "I have a dental appointment." Is anyone going to make a case for "I have a dentist's appointment"?
Students: We have free audio pronunciation exercises.
We do say 'dentist's appointment' this side of the Atlantic. Likewise 'vet's appointment'.
We say 'hospital appointment' without the s.
We say 'hospital appointment' without the s.
Here is a new blog post that dives into the details of your question:
https://www.englishforums.com/blog/doctor-appointment-doctors-appointment/
Comments
At The New York Times:
doctor's apppointment: 200 hits
doctor apppointment: 6 hits
Grammar Geek, would you like to venture an opinion on this one?
Hookster, what part of Colorado are you in? And, to digress a little, do you consider yourself a Coloradan? I am pretty sure that when I was growing up in Denver we were all Coloradoans -- then I spent 20 years on the East Coast and returned to find that I had lost an entire syllable.