0
Max Fedoseev Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Plurals within noun phrases

Hello,
Please help me with plurals within noun phrases.
Example:
Let's say we have a table where current states of vehicles are listed (e.g. "alarm" state, "normal state", "on the move" state, etc.).
Is it possible to call this table a "states table" (to stress that many states are displayed in it), or is only "state table" correct?
What happens if we add "vehicle" here? is it alright to say:
1. "Vehicle states table" - to suggest that there is only one vehicle whose states are in the table
2. "Vehicles states table" - to suggest that there are many vehicles in the table and each has many states.
3. "Vehicles state table" - to suggest that there are many vehicles in the table and their collective, general state is shown.

Or would "vehicle state table" be the only possible name for this thing in all cases?

More examples:
Can I say "a guitars showcase" to suggest that there are many guitars in this showcase?
Can I say "a birds habitat" to stress that there are many birds in the habitat?
What will change in the meaning if I use the possessive: "a birds' habitat"?

Thanks, Merry Christmas!

Max
  

Top answer

Proper: "Vehicle state table" Another (and better) option: "State of vehicle table" Also: "Vehicles' states table" because the "state" is a possessive of "vehicle" Singular (as in the first option on top) is always best: "a guitar show", "a bird habitat" When discussing a particular bird's or guitar's show then "a bird's habitat". To say "a birds' habitat" is wrong because "a" denotes a singular possessive noun; whereas, "birds'" is a plural possessive noun.

— Roman Zangief

  • Proper: "Vehicle state table" Another (and better) option: "State of vehicle table" Also: "Vehicles' states table" because the "state" is a possessive of "vehicle" Singular (as in the first option on top) is always best: "a guitar show", "a bird habitat" When discussing a particular bird's or guitar's show then "a bird's habitat".
  • To say "a birds' habitat" is wrong because "a" denotes a singular possessive noun; whereas, "birds'" is a plural possessive noun.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
Proper: "Vehicle state table"

Another (and better) option: "State of vehicle table"

Also: "Vehicles' states table" because the "state" is a possessive of "vehicle"

Singular (as in the first option on top) is always best: "a guitar show", "a bird habitat"

When discussing a particular bird's or guitar's show then "a bird's habitat". To say "a birds' habitat" is w
0
0
thanks for your opinion!
Please tell why you use "states" in plural in "vehicles' states table", but use the singular in "vehicle state table"?

Regarding the "a birds' habitat" example - can the article be thought of as modifying "habitat", not "birds'"? (so "a birds' habitat" = "a habitat of birds"?)
0
0
And what about a list of vehicles?
Would it be "vehicles list" or "vehicle list"?

I would be very grateful if someone could give me some general rules for this kind of problems (or "these kinds of problems"?
0
0
Max Fedoseevsome general rules
In 99.9% of cases when a noun modifies another noun, the first (i.e., the modifying) noun is in the singular.

state table
vehicle list

It doesn't matter how many coats you hang on it, it's still a coat rack.
It doesn't matter how many guitars you display in it, it's still a guitar
0
0
Max Fedoseevthis kind of problems
this kind of problem or these kinds of problems.

CJ
0
0
Thanks CJ! That is convenient Emotion: smile Can you think of any examples out of that 0.01% left?

Is that also true if we have different
0

Related Questions