If I just have one friend, it would be obvious:
I visit my friend's house every weekend.
But if I have many friends. Each friend only has one house, and I visit them every them every weekend. Should I write:
1. I visit my friends' house every weekend.
or
2. I visit my friends' houses every weekend.
In (1), it looks like there is only one house and the house belongs to all of my friends. In (2), it looks like all each of my friend has more than one houses.
Which is right?
Thanks
I visit my friend's house every weekend.
But if I have many friends. Each friend only has one house, and I visit them every them every weekend. Should I write:
1. I visit my friends' house every weekend.
or
2. I visit my friends' houses every weekend.
In (1), it looks like there is only one house and the house belongs to all of my friends. In (2), it looks like all each of my friend has more than one houses.
Which is right?
Thanks
Guestif I have many friends. Each friend only has one house, and I visit them every them every weekend. Should I write: 1. I visit my friends' house every weekend. or 2. I visit my friends' houses every weekend.
2. I visit my friends' houses every weekend.
GuestIn (1), it looks like there is only one house and the house belongs to all of my friends.
Yes, it does.
GuestIn (2), it looks like all each of my friend has more than one houses.
No, it doesn't.
1 2
Comments
You must take into consideration your reader's intelligence. We do not expect each of your friends to have multiple houses. If they did, you would use 'friends' houses' and then would have to state that explicitly, as a situation out of the ordinary.
By the way, should I write "Is this a problem OF the English language?" or "Is this a problem WITH the English language?".
I'd better stop thinking and writing. Just one confusion right after another.
Thanks
It is not a problem with/of English or any other language. As users, we are expected to know what will be ambiguous for our listener, and what will not. If I tell you that my second wife loves eggs Benedict, you are expected to know that in my culture I am allowed only one wife at a time, so that you are not shocked and accuse me of bigamy.
In the unlikely situation that each of your friends has multiple dwellings, then you are expected to explain that, as the accepted grammar does not cover situations outside the normal range of its culture. You could not expect Polynesian languages to have a subtle range of words describing snow, for instance.
By all means, if you think that a statement could be misconstrued, rephrase it.
1.I went to one of my friend's house.
2.I went to one of my friends' house.
Thank you.
I THINK YOU SHOULD RIGHT I visit my friends' house every weekend.