Sign Up For Our Free Grammar E-Newsletter

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.

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?

Answers

1. Kennedys
2. Marys
3. Mary’s
4. Kennedys’
5. Kennedy’s
6. Churches

To comment on this grammar tip, click on the title.

Posted on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007, at 2:17 pm

When to Add “s” to a Verb

If you feel confident about forming plurals in English by adding an “s” or “es” at the end of the word, I’m about to make you feel a little wobbly. Although most noun plurals are formed this way, verb plurals are formed by removing the “s.”

For example, which verb is plural, talk or talks? Because you would say, “He talks,” talks is the singular verb. You would say, “They talk.” Therefore, talk is the plural verb.

Example: The position listed on the university Web site caught my attention because my education, experience, and training closely parallel/parallels your needs.

Answer: This sentence has two sets of subjects and verbs. The first subject/verb combination is position/caught. The second set of subjects is education, experience, and training, which is plural. We would say, “They parallel” so we must write or say, “…my education, experience, and training closely parallel your needs.”

Example: If he or she needs/need me, I will be in the other room.

Answer: In this sentence, he and she are the subjects; however, they are connected by or so we use the singular verb needs.

Pop Quiz

1. When he and Jenny walks/walk to work, they hold hands.
2. They leaves/leave at the end of the year for a month-long vacation.
3. Her dog, cat, and chicken gets/get along well together.
4. When he gets/get angry, his face turns red.
5. She goes/go away every August.

Answers

1. walk (plural)
2. leave (plural)
3. get (plural)
4. gets (singular)
5. goes (singular)

To comment on this grammar tip, click on the title.

Posted on Saturday, April 14th, 2007, at 8:44 pm

« Previous Page