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people
Mar 2, 2012 2:15:18 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2012 2:15:18 GMT
is this word "people" both singular and plural? To use a possessive contraction can we say "the people's work" thus the work of the people and not the work of the peoples?
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people
Mar 2, 2012 4:07:13 GMT
Post by Verbivore on Mar 2, 2012 4:07:13 GMT
Welcome, Tillie.
Yes, people is both singular and plural.
In its singular sense it refers to, e.g., a type / tribe / nation of people, so its plural form is peoples, e.g. the peoples of Africa. In this usage, the plural possessive is peoples'.
In its more common everyday sense it has no singular form; * it is often used as a plural for person, a synonym for persons; * its possessive form follows the "add apostrophe-s" convention, as though it were singular: people's.
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