16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumPlural noun with no apostrophe

Standard English Conventions practice question

The ____ arrived an hour before the ceremony began.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. guestsCorrect
  2. B. guest's
  3. C. guests'
  4. D. guests's

Answer: A. guests

More than one guest arrived — a plain plural, which takes no apostrophe.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. guest's
'guest's' is a singular possessive: something belonging to one guest. Nothing is possessed here.
C. guests'
'guests'' is a plural possessive: something belonging to the guests. The sentence needs the plural itself.
D. guests's
'guests's' is not a standard form.

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