Glossary
Contraction
A shortened form of a word or group of words, with the missing letters replaced by an apostrophe.
Example:
It's important to remember that they're coming over later, as both are examples of a contraction.
Irregular Plural Formation
The formation of plural nouns that do not follow standard rules, often involving a change in spelling, no change at all, or unique endings.
Example:
The SAT frequently tests irregular plural formation with words like 'criterion' becoming 'criteria' or 'mouse' becoming 'mice'.
Plural Noun Possessives
Forms of plural nouns that show ownership or a relationship. For plural nouns ending in -s, only an apostrophe is added; for those not ending in -s, 's is added.
Example:
The children's laughter filled the park, showing that the laughter belonged to multiple children.
Plural Nouns
Nouns that represent more than one person, place, thing, or idea, typically formed by adding -s or -es.
Example:
The library had thousands of books and many comfortable chairs for students to use.
Plural Possessives
A noun form that combines both plurality and possession, indicating ownership by multiple entities.
Example:
The students' projects were displayed in the hall, showing that the projects belonged to many students.
Possessive Nouns
Nouns that indicate ownership or a close relationship, formed by adding an apostrophe and -s ('s) or just an apostrophe (').
Example:
The city's skyline was breathtaking, showcasing the beauty belonging to the city.
Possessive Pronouns
Pronouns that indicate ownership or possession without using an apostrophe, such as 'his,' 'hers,' 'its,' 'theirs,' 'ours,' and 'yours.'
Example:
The blue car is theirs, not ours, clearly indicating ownership without an apostrophe.
Proper Nouns
Specific names of people, places, organizations, or things, which are always capitalized and follow specific rules for possessive forms.
Example:
James's new novel is a bestseller, demonstrating the possessive form for a specific person's name.
Regular Plural Formation
The standard way to form the plural of most nouns, typically by adding -s or -es, or by changing -y to -i and adding -es.
Example:
Many students find that understanding the rules for regular plural formation makes grammar questions much easier.
Singular Noun Possessives
Forms of singular nouns that show ownership or a relationship, typically created by adding an apostrophe and -s ('s) to the noun.
Example:
The student's backpack was left in the classroom, indicating it belonged to one student.
its vs. it's
'Its' is a possessive pronoun meaning 'belonging to it,' while 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.'
Example:
The dog wagged its tail excitedly because it's always happy to see its owner.