What is the declension of the word "cat"? - briefly
The noun "cat" in English follows a standard declension pattern. In the singular form, it remains unchanged as "cat," and in the plural, it becomes "cats."
What is the declension of the word "cat"? - in detail
The declension of the word "cat" in English follows a specific pattern, reflecting its grammatical role in a sentence. Unlike some other languages that have complex systems of case endings, English does not decline nouns based on grammatical cases such as nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive. However, the word "cat" can be inflected for number and possessive form.
Firstly, the plural form of "cat" is "cats." This simple inflection changes the noun from singular to plural:
- Singular: one cat
- Plural: several cats
Secondly, English uses the possessive case to indicate ownership or a close relationship with the noun. The possessive form of "cat" is created by adding an apostrophe and the letter 's' at the end of the word:
- Singular possessive: one cat's toy
- Plural possessive: several cats' toys
It is important to note that for plural nouns ending in 's', the possessive form is created by adding only an apostrophe:
- Plural: several cats
- Plural possessive: several cats' habitat
In summary, while English does not have a complex system of declensions like some other languages, the word "cat" can be inflected for number (singular and plural) and possessive form. Understanding these basic rules helps in accurately using the noun in various contexts.