Womens or Women's? (POSSESSIVE CASE)

Hi Friends!
Many users of English are not quite sure about the proper use of 'possessive case'. In today's world of online communication (especially if you are part of Orkut, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace etc.) you need to make sure that you use the possessive case without causing confusion to your readers.

Here are a few guidelines regarding the correct use of 'possessive case' (to show the 'possession' or 'ownership').

(I) Normally, add 's to singular subjects to make the possessive case: e.g.

Jacob's blog
My brother's wife
For our daughter's future
Sam's parents

(II) Likewise, if the subject is plural, just add an apostrophe at the end of the word: e.g.

Girls' hostel (hostel for girls)
(If you write Girl's here, it would mean 'hostel for ONE girl')

Boys' school (school for boys)
(If you write Boy's here, it would mean 'school for ONE boy')

Your brothers' property (property of your brothers)
(If you write brother's here, it would mean 'property of ONE brother')

Parents' guidance (guidance of parents)
(If you write parent's here, it would mean 'guidance of ONE parent')

My friends' email (email of my friends)

(If you write Friend's here, it would mean 'email of ONE friend')

Remember again, in all the previous sentences, we are talking about plural subjects; but if they were singular subjects, we would use girl's, boy's, brother's, friend's, parent's etc. (carefully check the position of the apostrophe['])

(III) But in the case of irregular plurals, we must add both an apostrophe and s (....'s)

e.g.
Women's hostel (NOT womens)
Children's activities (NOT childrens)
Men's shaving cream (NOT mens)

                                                                        
The second part of this lesson will be posted tomorrow. Don't forget to leave your comments &suggestions!

Take care
Jacob (Nova English Campus)

Most Common English Errors of Indian students.......

Here's a list of some of the most common mistakes that many English speakers in India make. Of course the list is not complete. I will continue to add more in my oncoming blogs. If you remember some of such common blunders, please inform me through your comments as it may help a good number of Indian studnts who wish to hone their communication skills in English.

In each pair of the following sentences, the sentences given in brackets are the accepted standard English)

I like the peoples of my village.
(I like the PEOPLE of my village)

Their childrens are very naughty.
(Their CHILDREN are very naughty.)

She is my cousin-sister.
(She is my COUSIN.)

He is my cousin-brother.
(He is my COUSIN.)

What is your good name, please?
(What is your name, please?)

Mrs & Mr Khurana
(MR &MRS Khurana.)

My brother is reading in fourth class.
(My brother is STUDYING in fourth class.)
(My brother is in fourth class.)

I got many informations about....
(I got a lot of INFORMATION about....)

There are different types of equipments here.
(There are different types of EQUIPMENT here)

I want to buy a pant/pent.
(I want to buy A PAIR OF PANTS.)

It cost me only one rupees.
(It cost me only one RUPEE.)

200 kilometres are a ling distance.
(200 kilometres IS a long distance.)

Parents should aware their children about......
(Parents should MAKE THEIR CHILDREN AWARE ABOUT.....)

Anyways, hope to see you again.
(ANYWAY, hope to see you again.)

He oftenly comes here.
(He OFTEN comes here.)

My Mrs is not well today.
(My WIFE is not well today.)

I used to do exercise daily.
(I used to TAKE exercise daily.)

I am completely agree with you.
(I completely agree with you.)

He is belong to Delhi.
(He BELONGS to Delhi.)

Jack is one of my best friend.
(Jack is one of my best FRIENDS.)