Question

Which of the following is an example of a possessive noun inflection?

• A. A. book → books
• B. B. bus → buses
• C. C. boy → boy’s
• D. D. run → runs

Answer 1

Answer:

C. C. boy → boy’s

Understanding Possessive Noun Inflection

• A possessive noun indicates ownership, possession, or a close relationship between two nouns. It shows that one thing belongs to or is associated with another.
• Inflection in grammar refers to a change in the form of a word (usually by adding a suffix) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, or gender.
• In the context of nouns, inflection primarily refers to changes for number (singular/plural) and case (nominative, objective, possessive).
• The process of making a noun possessive involves adding an apostrophe and an 's' ('s) or just an apostrophe (') to the noun. This is an example of noun inflection.

Rules for Possessive Noun Inflection:

• Singular Nouns: To make most singular nouns possessive, add 's.
  Examples:
  • boy → boy’s (the boy's toy)
  • cat → cat’s (the cat's whiskers)
  • student → student’s (the student's book)
• Plural Nouns Ending in 's': For plural nouns that already end in 's', simply add an apostrophe (’) after the 's'.
  Examples:
  • boys → boys’ (the boys' playground)
  • students → students’ (the students' desks)
  • teachers → teachers’ (the teachers' lounge)
• Irregular Plural Nouns (not ending in 's'): For plural nouns that do not end in 's', add 's.
  Examples:
  • children → children’s (the children's toys)
  • men → men’s (the men's club)
  • women → women’s (the women's rights)
• Proper Nouns Ending in 's': For proper nouns ending in 's', either add just an apostrophe (') or 's, depending on style guides. Both are generally accepted.
  Examples:
  • James → James’ book OR James’s book
  • Kansas → Kansas’ history OR Kansas’s history
• Compound Nouns: For compound nouns (e.g., father-in-law), add 's to the last word.
  Example:
  • father-in-law → father-in-law’s car

Relevance for Competitive Exams:

• Questions on possessive nouns frequently appear in the English Language section of competitive exams to test grammar, punctuation, and sentence construction skills.
• Common errors often involve incorrect placement of the apostrophe or omission of 's for singular possessives.
• Understanding these rules helps in identifying grammatical errors (spotting errors) and correcting sentences.