Questions tagged [possessives]
for questions about words and word forms used to indicate ownership, belonging, or a similar relationship.
0
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1answer
39 views
Makers Night, Maker's Night or Makers' Night?
We're running an evening craft fair soon and the posters are being designed. It's called "Makers Night", as the multiple independent stallholders who make and sell the crafts are also known as "makers"...
0
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0answers
8 views
using possessive apostrophe with country names
Why is it so that it is more correct to say
In India, Independence Day is not on August 14th.
instead of
India's Independence Day is not on August 14th.
?
Is it because the usage of ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Can “father” be used as “Dad”?
As "Dad" and "Mom" start with a capital letter if they came as the father and mother's names. Then, is it possible for "father" to be used in the same situation but without capitalizing its first ...
1
vote
2answers
37 views
“Someone else's”, “Someone's else”, and “Someone else's one”
For example:
-- You should move your car out of the way.
-- This is not my car but someone else's car.
I want to get rid of the redundancy in the sentence which is presented by the second "...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Adults department or adults' department?
Should it be adults department or adults' department?
The Older Adults Department at CCSF offers non-credit classes specially designed for those 55 plus, but all are welcome to attend.
Source: ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
What is the difference between city centre and city's centre?
I was wondering about what's the difference because I always learned it as city centre, but now I read it like that, and... Is it the same?
0
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1answer
31 views
Do I need to repeat 'of the'?
Let us suppose you are a repairman.
Each evening you must check the condition of the fireplace and of the boiler?
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Is “One's life of them” a valid phrase?
I want to use a phrase that takes the form of possession. It may be a matter of an apostrophe with s or a usage of a possessive pronoun, I suppose.
What I want the phrase to mean and indicate is that ...
0
votes
1answer
11 views
Personal pronoun with a gerund or infinitive?
My father never approved _____ a foreigner.
a. her to marry
b. her marrying
c. she marrying
d. she not marry
Please answer the question with an explanation.
1
vote
2answers
16 views
Use of possessive apostrophe with “every”
In the following sentence, can anyone tell me where the apostrophe should be placed please?
Every coders' worst nightmare
Every coder's worst nightmare
I have a feeling that the second sentence is ...
3
votes
1answer
459 views
Sister's vs. Sisters'
Question regarding the use of apostrophe/ownership in the case of twins.
Noun: The Night Sisters (who constitute a twin object).
Sentence: Mary tended John throughout the Night Sisters passing.
...
0
votes
0answers
9 views
It's a book of my mother's VS It's my mother's book
Am I right about this:
It's a book of my mother's - it proves she has several books and this one
It's my mother's book - it doesn't prove the other books' existence. It proves only this one's one, ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
The blue one's car is burning AND The blue ones' car is burning
Can we use the possessive "'s" for "one"
-I am seeing a green guy and a blue one.
-The blue one's car is burning
Is it correct?
The same about pluraul:
-I am seeing green guys blue ones.
...
2
votes
2answers
29 views
I want to buy a building's corner?
If I am an insane person wanting to buy a corner of some building, can I say:
I want to buy a building's corner?
Or it should necessarily be said like:
I want to buy a corner of some building?
...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
It's a car of my father's friend's
I read that we really could use the double possession like
It's a car of my father's
But somewhy we can't say:
It's a car of my father's friend's
Like, the triple possession? Is it true or we ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
It's a book of my mother's
If we say:
It's a book of my mother's
How could this sentence be identified? Wrong, archaic, formal or something else?
4
votes
4answers
66 views
Choosing a shop name [closed]
Which one is more grammatically correct as a shop name, Valhalla’s Dojo or Valhalla Dojo? It’s a name for a game centre. My partners and I can’t seem to agree on this.
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Which noun does a DETERMINER follow in cases like “this/these”+“year's crops”?
Which of the following are correct and why are they and others aren't?
This year's crops are much better.
These year's crops are much better.
This employees' boss is much better.
These employees' ...
2
votes
1answer
43 views
..eating a pig's head..why not “pig head”?
In my grammar book, the following is stated:
2.5 animals
1. Use ’s when referring to the parts of the body of a living animal.
2. Use ’s when referring to the products of living animals.
3. ...
2
votes
3answers
44 views
Genitive for words that end with “ 's ”
"Dubai Customs" is a government department in Dubai. When we want to mention its employees, for example, what should we say?
Dubai Customs' employees
or
Dubai Customs employees
...
4
votes
2answers
353 views
How to describe a definite one of Picasso's paintings as well as an indefinite one of them?
I'm sure there are many, many paintings drawn by Pablo Picasso.
How do you refer to one of those paintings?
First, here's what I know is a correct way of doing so:
a. I saw a Picasso at a museum.
...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Get in Someone like that’s car. Or Get in someone's like that car
Which is correct "Get in someone like that’s car." Or, "Get in someone's like that car."?.
1
vote
2answers
26 views
That house is my friend's
How to say correct:
That house is my friend's
That house is of my friend
That house is of my friend's
1
vote
2answers
42 views
The Smith's paper vs the Parkinson's foundation
Following grammar rules I know (quoting):
The ’s is placed immediately after the last letter of the author (or
name, country, etc.). Note: do not use the before the name of the
author.
..
...
1
vote
3answers
35 views
if referencing something contained in an Appendix, would I say appendix's?
So my paper is about a particular book and i'm referencing one of the appendices for my argument. The title of the appendix is Nagel's brain, and i'm trying to say the quote is from the appendix's/...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Still confusing with 's in the phrase
I have read all the threads on it and am still confusing with this case
Photographer's work is 24/7
or
Photographer work is 24/7
it answers "whose?" question. The work of a photographer.
Still ...
0
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1answer
16 views
-3
votes
1answer
43 views
Question structure for possessive pronoun [closed]
My paper is ready.
I want to make this sentence into a question. In my view, it would be
Is my paper ready?
Is it correct according to English grammar? It might be correct but I need a reference....
1
vote
3answers
34 views
Correct structure of a sentence with “Have got”
how do I ask a question "What do you usually have in your bag when you go to the beach?" using "have got" for possession?
Is it correct? "What have you usually got in your bag when you go to the ...
1
vote
2answers
64 views
She's someone's sister vs. She's someones' sister
I recently found on a website a picture from a gathering. An individual had a sign saying She's someone's sister. As a non-native English speaker, I'm wondering why isn't She's someones' sister the ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
Apostrophes in Time expressions with articles
Reading a book called "English for Academic Research" from A. Wallwork, he mentiones this:
The genitive is used when a time period is used adjectivally.
2. The genitive is not used when time ...
3
votes
3answers
52 views
Should it be ice cream or ice cream's
Should it be...
Using heavy whipping cream will make the ice cream’s texture creamier
OR
Using heavy whipping cream will make the ice cream texture creamier.
Is there ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
What's the usage of “my” in “So what does sadness look like on an iPhone, in terms of my using it?”
I been listening to the freakonomics podcast and there's one episode where the guest said she could tell people's emotions when they are using their smart phone and the host asked her "So what does ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Possessive Nouns as antecedents
While going through this website I came across the following sentence under 'Indirect Object':
It was the cat’s birthday, so the dog bought her a present.
How is her referring to cat ? Isn't ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Possessive with Two Nouns
Chicago (edit: The Chicago Manual of Style) says that when two nouns “possess” the same entity, only the
second takes an apostrophe (‘):
my aunt and uncle’s house
Gilbert and Sullivan’s ...
0
votes
2answers
93 views
Definiteness in the {container} of {contents} construction
Let’s imagine the following situation: my friend gave me yesterday books. I put them into a box.
Now, I have noticed that we should name the box as
the box of books that my friend gave me
not as ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
MY old friend VS an old friend OF MINE
"This is Lord Henry, a good friend of mine"
What differences are there? It is just stylistic differences? Isn't?
Can I freely use such construction instead of "my/our etc"?
For example:
This is a ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
The key to my room. Vs The key of my room
To. Vs of
I am looking for the key of my room.
I am looking for the key to my room.
I have just known that the second is right and the first is wrong. However, sometimes it is ...
0
votes
2answers
43 views
insist on somebody('s) doing something
Which of the two sentences below is correct?
Why do you insist so much on your child learning your native language?
or:
Why do you insist so much on your child's learning your native language?
0
votes
2answers
74 views
sheep's opinion or opinion of the sheep
This is a famous game of thrones quote:
The lion does not concern himself with the opinion of the sheep.
what is the difference between this sentence and this sentence:
The lion does not ...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
“Your face looks like my sister's friend face” or “my sister's friend”?
Which sentence should I use to show that she has the same face and should I use feature instead of face?
"Your face looks like my sister's friend face"
or just
"Your face looks like my sister'...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
Do I have to repeat possessive pronouns in a list?
Would it be okay to write:
Nevertheless, we will analyze it because of its straightforward computation, prevalence in research and lack of qualitatively different results with other measures.
or ...
13
votes
4answers
260 views
Why “The blog of Bill Gates” and not “The Bill Gates' blog”?
Let's open https://www.gatesnotes.com/
The title of the site is "The blog of Bill Gates"
Why "The blog of Bill Gates" and not "The Bill Gates' blog"?
Is it the possessive case or not?
0
votes
1answer
60 views
singular or plural : doctor's bills?
Should I use "doctor's bills" or "doctors' bills" in the following?
All the money went on doctor’s bills.
I'd appreciate your help.
3
votes
1answer
45 views
Gym changing room, why gym not genitive
In an English study book a task consisted of listening and writing down what you heard. One of the sentences was:
Fiona and Charlotte met in the gym changing room.
Why is the above correct? The ...
2
votes
3answers
93 views
A (Director's name) movie - why not possessive?
I have just watched a movie and noticed, during the opening credits:
A James Cameron movie
Why it is not "James Cameron's movie" when it actually is his film (in a sense that he directed it). Why ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
using of possessive pronoun
The house is not only wives but husbands too, the children are not only mothers, fathers too.
The house is not only of wives but husbands too, the children are not only of mothers, fathers too.
2
votes
2answers
65 views
Is “profit” a special case?
Company profits are down from last year's figures.
(Copied from Cambridge dictionary.)
1) Why don't we use a possessive s?
2) Why do we use plural profits?
3) Why don't we use “the”? When you ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
Where should the apostrophe go in “Cas's Cookies”?
My name is Cas and I make cookies to sell. I call my little enterprise Cas's Cookies. Is this the proper use of an apostrophe?
If I put the apostrophe after the second s then it changes my name to ...
1
vote
1answer
277 views
Do you have a pen? Can such sentences be converted into passive form?
Do you have a pen?
The verb in the question is "have" which is a possessive verb. Can such questions be asked in passive form?
