Plurals and Possessives or, where to put that “s” and apostrophe

Singular Nouns – How to Make Plural? Desk School Paper Student

General Rule – Add “s” Desks Schools Papers Students

But, There are Exceptions: Fish Evidence (Singular and plural are the same) Man (Men), Woman (Women) (Singular and plural have different spelling)

Faculty Always singular … but can refer to “a faculty member” or “what the English faculty decided.” Second example seems plural, but it is a singular entity or group. “Several East Coast college faculties lobbied for more education spending.” Here we have multiple groups, so plural.

Making a Noun Possessive The dog The boy The school

General Rule – Add ’s The dog’s bone. The boy’s house. The school’s athletic field.

Plural Possessives: General Rule: Just add an apostrophe but no “s” The boys’ bedroom. (There is more than one boy in it.) My friends’ dorm. (When you have many friends who live in one dormitory.

Exceptions again … It’s (contraction of “it is”) vs. Its (Possessive pronoun) That is Russ’s house. (singular) but That is the Livingoods’ house. (plural) Jesus’ sermon on the mount. (some singular nouns get only apostrophe)