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Is the possessive form of "sister's-in-law" correct?
For example: his sister's-in-law cat. Has such a word ever existed? What is the possessive form of the plural noun "sister-in-law"?
Feb 20, 2018 8:42 PM
Answers · 9
3
If your husband has two sisters, Jane and Sally, then:
Jane is your "sister-in-law."
Sally is your "sister-in-law."
Jane and Sally are your "sisters-in-law."
The cat that belongs to Sally (and just Sally - it hates Jane) is your "sister-in-law's cat."
The cats (plural) that belong to Jane (and just Jane, they won't go near Sally) are your "sister-in-law's cats."
The cats that Jane and Sally share are your "sisters-in-law's cats."
And really, that is far too many cats. You may want to think twice about the family you have married into.
February 20, 2018
2
The possessive of the singular is "sister-in-law's".
The plural is "sisters-in-law".
The possessive of the plural is "sisters-in-law's".
February 20, 2018
1
sister-in-law's - singular
sister-in-laws' - plural
It's a strange word, but yes it exists.
:)
February 20, 2018
how to write sisters-in-laws
May 1, 2023
As far as I know, (1)the main, or most important, noun should be pluralised, except where (2)custom says otherwise (except when it shouldn't). We thus get: Lord Mayor of London --> Lords Mayor of London* by (1), and, sister-in-law --> sisters-in-law** by (1). Moving on to the possessive, we get sisters-in-law's cf. (sisters-in-law)'s.
*I actually was not sure about this one and asked the Lord Mayor of Camden about it once. He, a lawyer, prevaricated.
**"in-law" can hardly compare in importance to "sister", can it?
December 20, 2018
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Language Skills
English, Persian (Farsi)
Learning Language
English
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