Do I need an apostrophe in "These trees’ roots"? [closed]
Do I need an apostrophe in "These trees’ roots"?
For example,
"Wow!!! These trees' roots are so long!"
In this example the speaker can see both roots and the trees themselves.
I looked at this question: Apostrophe in “beginners guide” but there they are discussing the case when an apostrophe is added to a person or persons (beginners), while in my case it's trees. Can I just drop the apostrophe in my case? (You can't drop it in case with the Beginner's Guide, can you?)
Solution 1:
If the main focus of the question is where to place the possessive apostrophe then the answers posted by Caleb and Daniel are absolutely correct, the apostrophe is placed after the suffix "s" when the possessor is plural; e.g. the cars' wheels, the dogs' dinner, the boys' teachers etc.
But I suggest that the original sentence be rephrased, and the OP choose the singular adjunct noun over the plural one.
- One tree and its roots:
Look at these tree roots.
The expression "tree roots" is like an open compound noun, and the word ‘tree‘ is the noun adjunct. The possessive apostrophe in "tree roots” is unnecessary, similarly it is not required in other open compound nouns such as “computer chips”, “army rations”, and “bank clerk(s)”. But what if there is more than one tree? Rephrase it.
- Multiple trees and their roots:
Look at the roots of those trees.
Because the possessive apostrophe is inaudible in "the trees’ roots", "the cars’ wheels”, “the dogs’ dinner” and “the boys’ teachers” the listener might infer the speaker is referring to a single possessor; i.e. a tree, a car, a dog and a boy. Say the examples out aloud, and your brain will interpret as the roots belonging to a single tree, the wheels of a single car, the dinner belonging to a dog and the teachers of a school boy.
I am also of the opinion that the determiner those is preferable, as I imagine someone pointing to the roots of different trees on the ground.In the case where the speaker is crouched next to the roots then saying "these roots" will come more spontaneously.
Solution 2:
Yes, you need the apostrophe. -s' denotes possession of some thing or things by multiple owners. The roots belong to the trees; the trees own the roots. Therefore, the roots are the trees' roots.
Solution 3:
Yes, you need the apostrophe, and you need it right where it is: make sure that the apostrophe is after the "s", not before.
-s' is the possessive ending for plural nouns (e.g. trees becomes trees'), while -'s is the possessive ending for singular nouns (e.g. tree becomes tree's).
Hence, The roots of these trees becomes These trees' roots.
And The roots of this tree becomes This tree's roots.