Countable Attributive nouns in plural context












0














There are a lot of topics about this question. All of them explain the form (plural, singular) of the attributive noun coupled with a main noun in the singular form, for example:





  • ladies room

  • steel bridge




To show the plural form, we should change the form of the main noun (right?), that is:





  • ladies rooms (many rooms for ladies)

  • steel bridges (many bridges)




I've discovered a pattern: in most cases, such nouns are compounded with an uncountable attributive noun. But when we try to modify the main noun with an uncountable noun, and want to show plural form, it leads to ambiguity. For instance:




subnet identifiers




In this case, subnet has several identifiers. But if I want to show that there is more than one subnet, and that each (one) of them has several identifiers, is it correct to write:




subnets identifiers




Or in such situations, should I prepositional expression, such as:




identifiers of subnets











share|improve this question





























    0














    There are a lot of topics about this question. All of them explain the form (plural, singular) of the attributive noun coupled with a main noun in the singular form, for example:





    • ladies room

    • steel bridge




    To show the plural form, we should change the form of the main noun (right?), that is:





    • ladies rooms (many rooms for ladies)

    • steel bridges (many bridges)




    I've discovered a pattern: in most cases, such nouns are compounded with an uncountable attributive noun. But when we try to modify the main noun with an uncountable noun, and want to show plural form, it leads to ambiguity. For instance:




    subnet identifiers




    In this case, subnet has several identifiers. But if I want to show that there is more than one subnet, and that each (one) of them has several identifiers, is it correct to write:




    subnets identifiers




    Or in such situations, should I prepositional expression, such as:




    identifiers of subnets











    share|improve this question



























      0












      0








      0







      There are a lot of topics about this question. All of them explain the form (plural, singular) of the attributive noun coupled with a main noun in the singular form, for example:





      • ladies room

      • steel bridge




      To show the plural form, we should change the form of the main noun (right?), that is:





      • ladies rooms (many rooms for ladies)

      • steel bridges (many bridges)




      I've discovered a pattern: in most cases, such nouns are compounded with an uncountable attributive noun. But when we try to modify the main noun with an uncountable noun, and want to show plural form, it leads to ambiguity. For instance:




      subnet identifiers




      In this case, subnet has several identifiers. But if I want to show that there is more than one subnet, and that each (one) of them has several identifiers, is it correct to write:




      subnets identifiers




      Or in such situations, should I prepositional expression, such as:




      identifiers of subnets











      share|improve this question















      There are a lot of topics about this question. All of them explain the form (plural, singular) of the attributive noun coupled with a main noun in the singular form, for example:





      • ladies room

      • steel bridge




      To show the plural form, we should change the form of the main noun (right?), that is:





      • ladies rooms (many rooms for ladies)

      • steel bridges (many bridges)




      I've discovered a pattern: in most cases, such nouns are compounded with an uncountable attributive noun. But when we try to modify the main noun with an uncountable noun, and want to show plural form, it leads to ambiguity. For instance:




      subnet identifiers




      In this case, subnet has several identifiers. But if I want to show that there is more than one subnet, and that each (one) of them has several identifiers, is it correct to write:




      subnets identifiers




      Or in such situations, should I prepositional expression, such as:




      identifiers of subnets








      grammar attributive-nouns






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 11 hours ago









      Carly

      1,489213




      1,489213










      asked 14 hours ago









      Ilya Zlobin

      345




      345






















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          When dealing with objects that aren't people, like subnets, the only correct way is the last one. The usage of the apostrophe ' can be used if and only if we talk about people's possessions. However, if your object is daughters then the only correct way would be daughters' identifiers.



          So use the apostrophe when referring to humans and use of when referring to inanimate objects.






          share|improve this answer








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            1 Answer
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            1 Answer
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            active

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            active

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            -1














            When dealing with objects that aren't people, like subnets, the only correct way is the last one. The usage of the apostrophe ' can be used if and only if we talk about people's possessions. However, if your object is daughters then the only correct way would be daughters' identifiers.



            So use the apostrophe when referring to humans and use of when referring to inanimate objects.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.























              -1














              When dealing with objects that aren't people, like subnets, the only correct way is the last one. The usage of the apostrophe ' can be used if and only if we talk about people's possessions. However, if your object is daughters then the only correct way would be daughters' identifiers.



              So use the apostrophe when referring to humans and use of when referring to inanimate objects.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                -1












                -1








                -1






                When dealing with objects that aren't people, like subnets, the only correct way is the last one. The usage of the apostrophe ' can be used if and only if we talk about people's possessions. However, if your object is daughters then the only correct way would be daughters' identifiers.



                So use the apostrophe when referring to humans and use of when referring to inanimate objects.






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                When dealing with objects that aren't people, like subnets, the only correct way is the last one. The usage of the apostrophe ' can be used if and only if we talk about people's possessions. However, if your object is daughters then the only correct way would be daughters' identifiers.



                So use the apostrophe when referring to humans and use of when referring to inanimate objects.







                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer






                New contributor




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                answered 14 hours ago









                tyler1

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                832




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