One of the following Singular : Plural pair is correct:

Appeared in: GMCH - 2016

Explanation

The question tests the rule for forming the plural of hyphenated compound nouns.
For compound nouns like 'Son-in-law', the plural is formed by adding '-s' to the principal word, which is 'Son'.
Therefore, the correct singular-plural pair is 'Son-in-law' : 'Sons-in-law'.

Option A: The plural of 'Man-of-war' is 'Men-of-war'. The principal noun 'Man' has an irregular plural ('Men'), and the plural marker is not added to the end of the phrase.
Option B: The plural form provided is identical to the singular form. The correct plural is 'Commanders-in-chief', where the principal noun 'Commander' is pluralized.
Option D: The plural of 'Passer-by' is 'Passers-by'. The '-s' is added to the principal noun 'Passer', not as an '-es' suffix at the end of the word.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pluralization of compound nouns as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a grammar question, strong language skills are essential for nurses.
Accurate and clear writing is crucial for patient charting, documentation, and professional communication with colleagues and other healthcare providers.
Errors in documentation can lead to misinterpretation and potential patient safety issues.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the question type. This is a grammar question focusing on the plural forms of compound nouns.
Analyze the structure of each compound noun (e.g., noun + preposition + noun).
Identify the 'principal' or main word in the compound noun. This is the word that carries the core meaning.
Apply the standard pluralization rule to the principal word. For most hyphenated nouns, only the main word is made plural.
Evaluate each option: 'Son-in-law' becomes 'Sons-in-law' (correct). 'Man-of-war' becomes 'Men-of-war' (incorrectly given). 'Commander-in-chief' becomes 'Commanders-in-chief' (incorrectly given). 'Passer-by' becomes 'Passers-by' (incorrectly given).
Select the option that correctly applies this rule.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full GMCH - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.