Select the plural of the foreign word given below: cactus A. cactuses B. cactica C. cactus’s D. cacti
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct plural form of “cactus” is D. cacti.
Explanation:
The word “cactus” comes from Latin, and in Latin, the plural form of words ending in “-us” typically changes to “-i.” This rule applies to many Latin-derived words, and “cactus” is one of them. So, the plural of “cactus” follows the Latin rule, making cacti the correct plural form.
Here’s a breakdown of the options:
- A. cactuses: While this form is commonly used in English, it is not the traditional or most accepted plural. English often adapts foreign words to follow its own grammatical patterns, and “cactuses” is an example of this adaptation. However, in formal writing or scientific contexts, “cacti” is preferred.
- B. cactica: This is not a recognized plural form of “cactus.” It does not follow any grammatical rules in Latin or English for pluralizing the word “cactus.”
- C. cactus’s: This is the possessive form, not the plural. In English, to show possession for a singular noun, you add an apostrophe and “s,” making “cactus’s” the correct possessive form (e.g., “The cactus’s spines are sharp.”) but not the plural.
- D. cacti: This is the correct and traditional plural form, derived from Latin. It follows the Latin rule of changing “-us” to “-i.”
In summary, while “cactuses” is occasionally used, the proper and formal plural is cacti, especially in academic or scientific contexts where precision is important.
