Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[KejciorF]

Hi,

is there a difference in meaning between AUTOMOBILE and AUTOMOBILES industry?

TIA,

Kate.

[Lorikeet]

We say, "the automobile industry" and not "the automobiles industry." When a noun is used as an adjective, we use the singular form. That's why we have, "shoestore" and not "shoesstore" and "booksstore" and not "bookstore". It is the same rule for "two-cent stamp," "four-hour class, "three-year-old child," and "three-day weekend."