Passerbys or Passersby – Which is Correct?
So, you’re strolling down the street, glancing at people passing by. Suddenly, you pause and wonder, “Wait a minute, is it passerbys or passersby?” It’s a common question, and one that often leaves people scratching their heads. But fear not! I am here to shed some light on this linguistic puzzle.
The correct term is indeed “passersby.” Let’s break it down and understand why. In this compound noun, “passer” is the singular form and “by” serves as a preposition. When we pluralize the noun, we add the “-s” to the main word, which in this case is “passer.” However, the preposition “by” remains unchanged since it doesn’t take on a plural form. This results in “passersby.”
To further illustrate this, let’s consider a few examples:
1. As I sat on the park bench, I watched passersby enjoying their afternoon walks.
2. The street performer captivated the attention of the passersby with his mesmerizing guitar skills.
3. I asked the passersby for directions, hoping to find my way through the bustling city.
In each of these examples, the term “passersby” is correctly used to refer to multiple individuals moving past a particular location. It captures the essence of the scene, emphasizing the action of passing by.
Now, imagine if we were to use “passerbys” instead. It might sound a little strange, right? This is because we would be incorrectly pluralizing both the main word (“passer”) and the preposition (“by”). It would imply multiple individuals who are not only passing by, but also possessing or owning something. This, of course, is not the intended meaning.
To grasp the concept better, let’s consider an analogy. Think of “passersby” as a group of people walking past a store window. They are just passing by, without any ownership or possession of the store. Now, if we were to say “passerbys,” it would be like these people suddenly having ownership or control over the store, which doesn’t quite fit the context.
In conclusion, the correct term to use is “passersby.” Remember to pluralize the main word while keeping the preposition unchanged. By doing so, you will not only demonstrate your grammatical prowess but also speak and write confidently in English.
So, next time you find yourself questioning whether it’s “passerbys” or “passersby,” remember this simple rule and choose “passersby” to accurately describe those individuals walking past you.