Possessive form of Barnes and the way it is pronounced

[hanky]

Let's say Barnes is the name of a person. What is the possessive form of Barnes? Is this Barnes's or just Barnes' ? How do you pronounce it?

I am aware of the rules, but I don't know how to apply these rules to this specific case.

Thanks for your help.
H

 

[Kondorosi]

I am aware of the rules, but I don't know how to apply these rules to this specific case.

For singular names ending in -s, the regular genitive is usual: Barnes's, but sometimes these nouns are treated as if they were plural nouns: Barnes'.
The latter form is frequent with archaic names.

 

[hanky]

For singular names ending in -s, the regular genitive is usual: Barnes's, but sometimes these nouns are treated as if they were plural nouns: Barnes'.
The latter form is frequent with archaic names.

I am aware of what you said and this is the reason why I asked the questions in the first post.
How would we treat this name of Barnes?

 

[TheParser]

Let's say Barnes is the name of a person. What is the possessive form of Barnes? Is this Barnes's or just Barnes' ? How do you pronounce it?

I am aware of the rules, but I don't know how to apply these rules to this specific case.

Thanks for your help.
H

***NOT A TEACHER***Great question. Here in the United States, many people write: James' house. A few people and an occasional newspaper (such as The New York Times) will write: James's house. Regarding pronunciation, I'm not sure. I'm guessing that many (most?) pronounce it like: James house. Personally, I pronounce it the "correct" way: Jameses house. But one book said sometimes there are so many S sounds that you just can't pronounce all of them. The book's example was: Texas's capital. The book said you have three S sounds there. Thank you.

 

[Kondorosi]

I am aware of what you said and this is the reason why I asked the questions in the first post.
How would we treat this name of Barnes?

1. Barnes' :tick:
2. Barnes's :tick:

2. is more frequent.

This is what I said and you were aware of. ;-)

 

[hanky]

***NOT A TEACHER***Great question. Here in the United States, many people write: James' house. A few people and an occasional newspaper (such as The New York Times) will write: James's house. Regarding pronunciation, I'm not sure. I'm guessing that many (most?) pronounce it like: James house. Personally, I pronounce it the "correct" way: Jameses house. But one book said sometimes there are so many S sounds that you just can't pronounce all of them. The book's example was: Texas's capital. The book said you have three S sounds there. Thank you.

So you go with Barnes', am I right?
Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

I would use Barnes'

 

[hanky]

1. Barnes' :tick:
2. Barnes's :tick:

2. is more frequent.

This is what I said and you were aware of. ;-)

OK, now I got your opinion. Your two posts are not clearly equivalent to me. Thanks.

 

[hanky]

I would use Barnes'

Thank you, Bhai.
I think so, because "Barnses" (Barns's) is more difficult to pronounce than "Barns" (Barns').

 

[bhaisahab]

Thank you, Bhai.
I think so, because "Barnses" (Barns's) is more difficult to pronounce than "Barns" (Barns').

Yes, I think if you say "Barnses" it sounds like you have a speech impediment.

 

[Barb_D]

Having grown up with friends named Barnes, we always said "The Barnses' house" as barn-zis.

If we wanted to talk about one of them, it was Jim Barnes's - said the same way.

I know it's a matter of style, but I always, always, use the 's form for people (or es' for plural) and add the "ziz" sound.

 

[Raymott]

***NOT A TEACHER***Great question. Here in the United States, many people write: James' house. A few people and an occasional newspaper (such as The New York Times) will write: James's house. Regarding pronunciation, I'm not sure. I'm guessing that many (most?) pronounce it like: James house. Personally, I pronounce it the "correct" way: Jameses house. But one book said sometimes there are so many S sounds that you just can't pronounce all of them. The book's example was: Texas's capital. The book said you have three S sounds there. Thank you.

Stupendous answer to a wonderful question, I agree! Quite marvelous.
I'm in awe. Let me catch my breath before I go on.

[a little later]
I agree with your answer. That's how I write and pronounce it.
But I have one very small comment, and it's certainly not a criticism of your quite astounding answer.
The first two 's' sounds in Texas's are /s/ and the third is /z/, so this isn't really comparable to, say, Jesus's, which has three /z/ in a row, all of which, personally, I pronounce on the few occasions I need to say it.
Thanks for your post; immensely interesting!

 

[TheParser]

Stupendous answer to a wonderful question, I agree! Quite marvelous.
I'm in awe. Let me catch my breath before I go on.

[a little later]
I agree with your answer. That's how I write and pronounce it.
But I have one very small comment, and it's certainly not a criticism of your quite astounding answer.
The first two 's' sounds in Texas's are /s/ and the third is /z/, so this isn't really comparable to, say, Jesus's, which has three /z/ in a row, all of which, personally, I pronounce on the few occasions I need to say it.
Thanks for your post; immensely interesting!

Thank you for your kind note. And thank you for the correction regarding " Texas's ." I am just an ordinary native speaker, so it was easier to say "S sound." Thanks to your reminder, I checked my books and realized that I should have used the word "sibilants." This website helps me to keep improving my native language thanks to teachers like you.