Learn English Language: Lesson 51 - 55

Lesson 51

Some groups pluralize both parts of the group; as man singer, manservant, woman servant, woman singer.

Lesson 52: Two methods in use for names with titles

As to plurals of names with titles, there is some disagreement among English writers. The title may be plural, as the Messrs. Allen, the Drs. Brown, the Misses Rich; or the name may be pluralized.

The former is perhaps more common in present-day use, though the latter is often found; for example,

• Then came Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, and then the three Miss Spinneys, then Silas Peckham.
• Our immortal Fielding was of the younger branch of the Earls of Denbigh, who drew their origin from the Counts of Hapsburgh.
• The Miss Flamboroughs were reckoned the best dancers in the parish.
• The Misses Nettengall's young ladies come to the Cathedral too.
• The Messrs. Harper have done the more than generous thing by Mr. Du Maurier.

Lesson 53: Domesticated words

A number of foreign words have been adopted into English without change of form. These are said to be domesticated, and retain their foreign plurals.

Others have been adopted, and by long use have altered their power so as to conform to English words. They are then said to be naturalized, or Anglicized, or Englished.

The domesticated words may retain the original plural. Some of them have a secondary English plural in -s or -es.

Lesson 54: Usage varies in plurals of letters, figures, etc

Letters, figures, etc., form their plurals by adding -s or 's. Words quoted merely as words, without reference to their meaning, also add -s or 's; as, "His 9's (or 9s) look like 7's (or 7s)," "Avoid using too many and's (or ands)," "Change the +'s (or +s) to -'s (or -s)."

Lesson 55: Case Definition

Case is an inflection or use of a noun (or pronoun) to show its relation to other words in the sentence.

In the sentence, "He sleeps in a felon's cell," the word felon's modifies cell, and expresses a relation akin to possession; cell has another relation, helping to express the idea of place with the word in.

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