Possessive Forms

Question

Hi. I am a little bit confused about the meaning of the sentences below. I will try to interpret them. Please confirm my understanding, and if I am wrong, please correct me and kindly tell me why I was wrong.

1. John and Marty parked their car outside the garage. (This suggests both John and Marty own the same one car)
2. John and Marty parked their cars outside the garage. (This means John and Marty own multiple cars. This can mean that each of them own a car. This can also mean each of them own more than one car.)
3. This is the dogs' dinner. (This means multiple dogs will have to share the same meal for supper together)
4. These are the dogs' dinners. (This means multiple dogs will have their own meal for supper)
5. These are the dogs' dinner. (This is incorrect)
6. The speeders will have their own fine as punishment. (Each speeder will have one fine for punishment)
7. The speeders will have their own fines as punishment.(Each speeder will receive several fines for punishment)
8. The speeders will have their fine as punishment. (Each speeder will have one fine for punishment)
9. The speeders will have their fines as punishment. (Each speeder will receive several fines for punishment)

Thanks a lot!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes, or a succession of single meals has been prepared in advance.
5. Yes, incorrect.
6. The speeders will have their own fines as punishment. (Each speeder will have one fine for punishment)
7. The speeders will have their own fines as punishment.(Each speeder will receive one or several fines for punishment)
8. The speeders will have their fine as punishment. (Each speeder will have one fine for punishment or they share a single fine.)
9. The speeders will have their fines as punishment. (Each speeder will receive one or several several fines for punishment)

Endeavour · Answer

In addition, I would like to ask for confirmation on a few more statements.

Situation: I have four pen friends that I need to contact.
1. I will contact my pen friends by sending a letter. (incorrect: one single letter cannot be sent to four pen friends)
2. I will contact my pen friends by sending letter. (incorrect: it needs either an article "a" or the a plural noun "letters")
3. I will contact my pen friends by sending letters. (correct: this means each pen friend will receive one or several letters)
4. I will contact each of them by sending a letter. (correct: each pen friend will get one letter from me)
4. I will contact each of them by sending letters. (correct: each pen friend will get at least several letters from me)
6. I will send letters to those four pen friends. (correct: each pen friend will receive one or several letters)
7. I will send a letter to each of those four pen friends. (correct: each pen friend will get one letter from me)
8. I will send a letter to those four pen friends. (incorrect: one single letter cannot be sent to four pen friends)

Situation: My group wishes to conduct a promotion in four classes.
9. We will conduct promotions in four classes. (correct: this means we will have one or several promotions in each of the four classes)
10. We will conduct a promotion in four classes. (incorrect: One promotion cannot be conducted in four classes simultaneously, as it is physically impossible)

As you can see, I am not certain if I should use singular or plural form in the objects... I will appreciate any website, tips or advice about it.

Mister Micawber · Answer

1. I will contact my pen friends by sending a letter.-- OK. Common sense leaves open the number of letters.
2. incorrect: it needs either an article "a" or the a plural noun "letters"- Right
3. Yes
4. Yes
4. I will contact each of them by sending letters. (correct: each pen friend will get one or several letters from me)
6. Yes
7. Yes
8. I will send a letter to those four pen friends. (incorrect: one single letter cannot be sent to four pen friends-- Sure it can—by CC)

9. Yes
10. We will conduct a promotion in four classes. (incorrect: One promotion cannot be conducted in four classes simultaneously, as it is physically impossible-- No; the sentence means a single promotion presented four times)

Possessive Forms

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