Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that most appropriately completes each sentence Several ....... attended the three-day summit.

Analyze the question The sentence is "Several ....... attended the three-day summit." We need the correct plural form of the compound noun "head of state."

Explain the concept In compound nouns of the pattern noun + preposition + noun (e.g., mother-in-law, commander-in-chief, man of war), the main (head) noun takes the plural "s," not the last word.

• mother-in-law → mothers-in-law
• attorney general → attorneys general
• head of state → heads of state

"State" here is used in a general or abstract sense (the office of national leader), so it stays singular. The word "several" also requires a plural noun, which rules out B and D.

Step-by-step solution

1. "Several" needs a plural noun, so B (head of state) and D (head of states) are out.
2. The main noun is "head," so it must be pluralized: heads.
3. The standard fixed expression is "heads of state," not "heads of states," so C is out.
4. E, "heads of the states," is not the idiomatic expression, so it is out.
5. This leaves A.

Answer: A. heads of state

Tip: For compounds with a preposition, pluralize the first (main) noun: runners-up, passers-by, sisters-in-law, heads of state. Ask yourself, "Which word is the actual person or thing?" That is the word that takes the "s."