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Plural and Possessive Forms with Names Ending in y
How do you form the plural of a proper noun that ends in y such as Murphy? Should you change the name to Murphies? Given how other English words ending in y form their plurals, you would think so.
Examples:
puppy/puppies,
army/armies,
supply/supplies
However, proper nouns are not pluralized the same way as common nouns are.
Rule: Do not change the spelling of a name to make it plural. Instead, just add s.
Example: I visited the Murphys last weekend.
Example: We have two Zacharys in our office.
What if you want to show possession with a name that ends in y?
Rule: To show singular possession, use the apostrophe and then the s.
Example: I petted Mrs. Murphy’s cat.
Rule: To show plural possession, make the proper noun plural first, then use the apostrophe.
Example: I petted the Murphys’ cat.
Example: I visited the Murphys’ store on Main Street.
Rule: To show the plural of a name that ends in s, ch, or z, add es.
Examples: The Sanchezes will be over soon. The Thomases moved away.
Due to the E-Newsletter's large readership, we are only able to respond to individual English usage questions if submitted through GrammarBook.com's "Grammar Blog." |
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Pop Quiz
1. I wish I had known the Kennedys/Kennedies/Kennedy’s better.
2. I know three Mary’s/Marys who live in Bangkok.
3. Mary’s/Marys dog is very friendly.
4. If the Kennedies’/Kennedys’/Kennedy’s home comes up for sale, I will buy it.
5. If Mrs. Kennedys’/Kennedy’s home comes up for sale, I will buy it.
6. Are the Church’es/Churches/Churche’s your friends?
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 Wordplay
Real Newspaper Headlines
Meeting on open meetings is closed.
County to pay $250,000 to advertise lack of funds.
New sick policy requires 2-day notice.
Worker suffers leg pain after crane drops 800-pound ball on his head.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Kennedys
2. Marys
3. Mary’s
4. Kennedys’
5. Kennedy’s
6. Churches
Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Tell your colleagues (and boss), children, teachers, and friends. Click here to watch. |
