'Passerby' is a term that evokes images of fleeting encounters—those brief moments when strangers cross paths, often unnoticed. Yet, when it comes to its plural form, many stumble into common misconceptions. The correct plural for 'passerby' is not 'passerbys' or any other variation you might think; it's actually 'passersby.' This may seem trivial at first glance, but understanding why this is the case reveals much about English language structure and how we communicate.
The word ‘passerby’ itself is a compound noun formed from two parts: ‘passer,’ which refers to someone who passes by something, and ‘by,’ indicating movement past an object or location. In English grammar, particularly with compound nouns like this one, the rule for forming plurals can be quite different from simply adding an -s at the end.
In our example of ‘passerby,’ we focus on changing only the main component—the noun part—which in this case is ‘passer.’ Thus, we transform it into its plural form as follows: passers-by (or passersby). This unique construction aligns with similar examples in English such as “mothers-in-law” or “editors-in-chief,” where only certain elements are modified while others remain intact.
Interestingly enough, these nuances highlight how rich and complex our language can be. Each time we encounter words like passerby in literature or conversation—whether describing a witness to an event or merely referencing someone passing through—we're reminded of those transient connections that make up our daily lives. So next time you see someone walking down the street—a passer-by—remember their story might just intertwine with yours if only for a moment.