Re: Singular and plural uses of collective nouns Thanks for such a speedy reply. Additionally, I would like to query the "possessiveness" of the sentence. I think this is my real issue with the apostrophe being used. I understand that where a clear possession is shown "The defendant's imprisonment" the apostrophe is essential. However, in the sentence in question, I cannot see how the "years" possess the "imprisonment"? If you take the new phrase above you cannot place "of" into it i.e. "the defendant of imprisonment", yet you can with "three years of imprisonment". The latter sentence then does away with the apostrophe and would appear, at first blush to be what the apostrophe was there to denote. My thinking is that because the imprisonment is the subject of the sentence and is being explained or modified by the three years it does not come into the same category as something showing possessiveness and therefore doesn't need an apostrophe? I hope you can swathe through my hypothesis, tear it to shreds and put me straight!!! This all started with a newspaper article and has caused no end of discussions. Yesterday I saw an advert for "3 years' interest free credit" and still can't help feeling it is wrong to put an apostrophe there. Please help, Ronjohn |