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Healer Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary
The possessive case.
I had learnt that we are to have "`s" immediately after the noun to indicate a sense of belonging but an apostrophe only for those nouns ending with the letter 's' EXCEPT those are names.
However I have seen or heard again and again, people write or say "Jesus'" instead of "Jesus's" or "James'" instead of "James's".
By the way. do we say "the James family" or "the Jameses family"?
However I have seen or heard again and again, people write or say "Jesus'" instead of "Jesus's" or "James'" instead of "James's".
By the way. do we say "the James family" or "the Jameses family"?
Top answer
Literature often omits the "S": Jonas' house. Brutus' knife. Certain academic styles require the "S": Jonhannes's piano.
- Literature often omits the "S": Jonas' house.
- Brutus' knife.
- Certain academic styles require the "S": Jonhannes's piano.
- Either way, when speaking, we add the "S".
- "The James family" is correct, though "James" isn't possessive in this case.
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7 Answers
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Literature often omits the "S": Jonas' house. Brutus' knife.
Certain academic styles require the "S": Jonhannes's piano.
Either way, when speaking, we add the "S".
"The James family" is correct, though "James" isn't possessive in this case.
Jimmy James is a member of the James family.
James Smith is sitting at this table. James' (Jameses) family is ove
Certain academic styles require the "S": Jonhannes's piano.
Either way, when speaking, we add the "S".
"The James family" is correct, though "James" isn't possessive in this case.
Jimmy James is a member of the James family.
James Smith is sitting at this table. James' (Jameses) family is ove
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Thanks.
I've found in religious readings or bible, they often say Jesus', not Jesus's. So I suppose that is one of the literature materials that you mean.
I was aware my incidental question was not of possessive case. I just want to ask a quick question without starting a new one. I realize in those instances they were merely meant to be plural. So when you say James family w
I've found in religious readings or bible, they often say Jesus', not Jesus's. So I suppose that is one of the literature materials that you mean.
I was aware my incidental question was not of possessive case. I just want to ask a quick question without starting a new one. I realize in those instances they were merely meant to be plural. So when you say James family w
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Group nouns are frequently treated as plural in British English: The James family are ...
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Now I am not sure after getting different answers.
Please comment!
In fact I was asking whether we should say James or Jameses? Because usually I see they have the surnames in plural forms. So is "James" considered singular or plural? Obviously when the surnames do not end with 's' we than could simply add a letter 's' at the end, but not in this case.
Please comment!
In fact I was asking whether we should say James or Jameses? Because usually I see they have the surnames in plural forms. So is "James" considered singular or plural? Obviously when the surnames do not end with 's' we than could simply add a letter 's' at the end, but not in this case.
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James can be a forename or a surname/family name.
Forename:
James is my friend.
James's father is a bishop.
Surname:
The James family have a lot of friends.
The Jameses live in the same town as my father.
The Jameses' dog is always barking.
Forename:
James is my friend.
James's father is a bishop.
Surname:
The James family have a lot of friends.
The Jameses live in the same town as my father.
The Jameses' dog is always barking.
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Thanks!
It is very good.
You have covered my incidental question.
Have a good day!
It is very good.
You have covered my incidental question.
Have a good day!
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