Final answer:
To form plural possessives in English, add 's to plurals not ending in s, and simply ' to those ending in s. Some nouns that end in -s are singular and take singular verbs, while collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs based on context.
Step-by-step explanation:
When forming plurals, the English language has specific rules that must be followed to ensure correct spelling. These rules apply differently depending on whether a noun already ends in an 's' or not. For instance, to form the possessive of plural nouns that do not end in 's', you must add an apostrophe and then 's' as in the case of 'the children's game' or 'the people's opinion'.
Conversely, if the plural noun already ends with an 's', you simply add an apostrophe at the end as with 'the three friends' cars' or 'the workers' benefits'.
However, some words that seem plural because they end in '-s', such as 'measles' or 'news', are actually treated as singular nouns and paired with singular verbs unless they refer to specific situations that imply plurality. Titles and terms are generally considered singular for the purposes of verb agreement. Moreover, collective nouns like 'team' or 'family' can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or individually.
Practice Subject-Verb Agreement
Understanding subject-verb agreement is key to mastering English grammar. Always ensure that the verb agrees in number with the subject of the sentence.
For collective nouns, consider the context to determine if a singular or a plural verb should be used. For example, the sentences 'All of these students take at least one class in science or math.' and 'Most of his work is original.' show correct subject-verb agreement usage with plural and singular verbs respectively.