Last visit was: 05 May 2026, 23:00 It is currently 05 May 2026, 23:00
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
skpMatcha
User avatar
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Last visit: 09 Sep 2010
Posts: 98
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 98
Kudos: 18
Plural form vs Possessive form 26 Aug 2009, 14:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I am getting confused abt the apostraphe, when do i use say girl's vs girls'. Please help me explain.

I hope I am clear with my question, I am really getting confused between plural form vs possessive form.

united states' - how do i give possessive for this noun ?

Please explain..



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
Aleehsgonji
User avatar
Joined: 10 Jul 2009
Last visit: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 74
Own Kudos:
636
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 74
Kudos: 636
Plural form vs Possessive form 26 Aug 2009, 14:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Girl's is a possesive form.

For a plural ending with s, the apostrophe is placed after s.

United States' is possesive for United States
Girls' is possesive for the whole group of girls.
User avatar
skpMatcha
User avatar
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Last visit: 09 Sep 2010
Posts: 98
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 98
Kudos: 18
Plural form vs Possessive form 27 Aug 2009, 07:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
apostraphe after the word is used to indicate a possessive form of plural which ends with s . got it !

So its just a possesive form and we dont use apostraphe with respect to plural...

girls' - possesive
women's - possesive
unitedstates' - possesive.
canada's - possessive.

okay thanks!
User avatar
GMAT888
User avatar
Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Last visit: 09 Mar 2022
Posts: 136
Own Kudos:
93
Given Kudos: 39
Posts: 136
Kudos: 93
Plural form vs Possessive form 26 Sep 2009, 23:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
girl's is possessive. And girls' is possessive as well. If the word ends with "s", put apostrophe after "s".
User avatar
sudeep
User avatar
Joined: 05 Jun 2009
Last visit: 13 Nov 2012
Posts: 248
Own Kudos:
1,188
 [1]
Given Kudos: 106
WE 1: 7years (Financial Services - Consultant, BA)
Posts: 248
Kudos: 1,188
 [1]
Plural form vs Possessive form 27 Sep 2009, 10:48
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Actually it is not entirely true as posted above.
Earlier, 's was used for pluralization and was (not sure about now) considered formal English.

FYI: If you see cases in GMAT/GMAT Prep with 's used as plural then mostly it will not test the plural singular form of that noun [all options will be using it in the same way]

See the link: GMAT Guru's Comment [Bob]
https://www.urch.com/forums/gmat-senten ... post609784

as you can see the above link has GMAT Prep question and is using CEO's for plural CEOs.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
AbhishekP220108
526 posts
bhanu29
363 posts