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Difficulty: EasyPlural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns

Which form of the noun 'chemist' correctly completes the blank in the passage below?

Answer:In 1915, chemist Alice Ball developed an injectable extract of chaulmoogra oil, which became the first effective treatment for Hansen's disease (leprosy). Although another scientist later attempted to claim credit for her work, the medical community ultimately recognized Ball’s pioneering role. Today, historians celebrate the 【chemist's】 breakthrough as a milestone in infectious disease treatment.

Answer

chemist's
The sentence requires a singular possessive noun to show that the breakthrough belongs to the single chemist mentioned in the passage, Alice Ball. The singular possessive form of 'chemist' is 'chemist's'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine whether the noun should be singular or plural.
The passage refers to a single individual, Alice Ball. Therefore, the singular form of 'chemist' is needed.
Identifying the noun's number determines the base spelling before applying possessive punctuation.
2
Determine whether the noun should be possessive.
The noun modifies 'breakthrough' to show who the breakthrough belongs to, which requires the possessive case.
Possessive nouns are used to indicate ownership or association with another noun.
3
Apply the punctuation rule for a singular possessive noun.
Add an apostrophe followed by 's' to the singular noun 'chemist,' resulting in 'chemist's'.
Singular possessive nouns in English are formed by adding -'s to the end of the singular noun.

Key Concept

Plural and Possessive Nouns
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Topics

Plural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns

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