Agreement with Nouns That End in S: A Quick Guide

As a copy editor, one of the most common errors that writers make is related to properly agreeing with nouns that end in “s.” This can be a tricky area of grammar, as some rules apply to certain situations, while other rules apply to others. To help you improve your writing, here is a quick guide to agreement with nouns that end in “s.”

The Possessive Case

In general, when a singular noun ends in “s,” you should add an apostrophe and an “s” to form the possessive case. For example, “Chris`s car” is correct, while “Chris` car” is incorrect. However, when it comes to plural nouns that end in “s,” the rules change. If the plural noun ends in “s,” you should only add an apostrophe to form the possessive case. For example, “the cats` toys” is correct, while “the cat`s toys” is incorrect.

The Plural Form

When it comes to forming the plural of nouns that end in “s,” the rules can be a bit more complex. In general, if a singular noun ends in “s,” you should add “es” to form the plural. For example, “bus” becomes “buses,” while “dress” becomes “dresses.” However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Nouns ending in “ch,” “sh,” “x,” or “z” usually add “es” to form the plural. For example, “box” becomes “boxes,” while “church” becomes “churches.” In addition, some nouns ending in “s” don`t add anything at all to form the plural. For example, “species” remains “species” in both singular and plural form.

Subject-Verb Agreement

When it comes to subject-verb agreement with nouns ending in “s,” there are a few rules to keep in mind. In general, a singular noun that ends in “s” takes a singular verb. For example, “The bus runs.” However, a plural noun that ends in “s” takes a plural verb. For example, “The buses run.” It`s important to note that some nouns ending in “s” can be either singular or plural depending on the context. For example, “politics” can be singular (“Politics is my passion”) or plural (“Politics are messy”).

Conclusion

Properly agreeing with nouns that end in “s” is important for creating clear, professional writing. Remember to use the possessive case properly, form the plural correctly, and use subject-verb agreement appropriately. With these tips, you can avoid common errors and improve your writing.

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