Have you been debating whether to use the plural "wifes" or "wives"? This is a very reasonable question; you certainly wouldn't be the first to ask which of these two is the correct grammatical use and why. Keep reading to find out!
The short answer is:
You already know that 'wives' is the correct plural for the word 'wife,' but maybe you'd want to know why. The main reason is as follows:
The English language has certain peculiar rules, particularly regarding plural nouns. When most single nouns are pluralized, an "s" is added to the end. Nouns ending in "y" with a consonant, on the other hand, obtain an "ies" ending.
In terms of the singular form 'wife,' there are no rules. All you have to remember is that certain nouns that finish in "f" or "fe" are altered to "ves."
However, this does not apply to all terms, such as wife. For example, the term dwarf in single turn becomes dwarfs in plural form.
We use 'wives' to make the word "wife" plural. For instance:
However, when the apostrophe is added to either the word 'wife' or 'wives,' the meaning changes immediately. For Instance:
The single possessive form of 'wife' is 'wife's.' When we wish to demonstrate that one woman owns something, we use the possessive form of 'wife.'
Remember, we're just talking about one 'wife'. If it's simpler to grasp, you may substitute a wife's with a name. For example:
Wives' is the possessive plural form of 'wives.' When the noun ends in "s," and we wish to make the word possessive, the apostrophe must be placed after the "s."
In this situation, several (more than one) of our' wives' own the company and run it collectively.
Because wife's and wives' sound so similar in spoken English, it might be difficult to tell whether you're talking about one wife or numerous wives in the possessive.
Now that we've established that the right word to use is 'wives,' you would probably be wondering whether the term 'wifes' still exists. Without an apostrophe, the term "wifes" is no longer possessive.
It is, nevertheless, a legal Scrabble word. If you wish to use the plural version of 'wife,' it's wives. It's a little perplexing that the term "wifes'' exists, but it's not the correct spelling for having more than one wife in English. This is due to the peculiar rules/non-rules of English.
Looking up other terms with comparable meanings might also help you understand a word better. A dictionary will come in help with confusing words here.
While the word 'wife' is the most formal term for a married woman, there are various alternative, more ambiguous terms:
These terms have almost the same meaning as the word 'wife,' although they are not gender-specific. A man or female in a relationship might be referred to as a partner, spouse, or mate.
The term "wife" has been used in the English language for a long time. It has acquired many implications and may be used both favorably and negatively. Of course, a great marriage frequently entails complimenting your 'wife'!
At the end of the day, how you speak about one' wife' or numerous wives depends on context and circumstance. Hopefully, this article has assisted you in learning the basics of English grammar for the correct term for the plural of the word 'wife.' Thanks for reading!
We encourage you to share this article on Twitter and Facebook. Just click those two links - you'll see why.
It's important to share the news to spread the truth. Most people won't.
