Questions tagged [possessives]
for questions about words and word forms used to indicate ownership, belonging, or a similar relationship.
528
questions
2
votes
3answers
48 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
365 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
32 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
42 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
49 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
96 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
71 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
votes
1answer
43 views
-3
votes
1answer
59 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
111 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Comparison by 'as'
If I have two questions and both of them can be solved by the same concept then if I want to say that 'the explanation of second sentence is same as first sentence'.
Is it correct, can I say this?
...
1
vote
2answers
450 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
195 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
67 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
50 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
56 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
77 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
108 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
3k 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
4k 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
801 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
112 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
228 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
303 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
295 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
284 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
49 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
173 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
45 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
93 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
397 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
741 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?
1
vote
1answer
523 views
Why is “several two hours' meetings” wrong?
Why is "several two hours' meetings" wrong? Any insight will be greatly appreciated.
It is from an ECPE practice exam grammar section question.
The boss won't be able to see you today as he has ...
1
vote
1answer
236 views
Plural possessive apostrophe with hyphen
I incorrectly assumed the following question involved plural possession. However, even if it did, is it ever acceptable to use an apostrophe for plural possession in a hyphenated word like this?
...
1
vote
2answers
36k views
Difference between students' vs students
I'm having difficulty understanding when to use students' vs students. I know you use students' when you're talking about more than one student. For example: "The students' homeworks were marked". ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
police entering … is illegal
Is the apostrophe "s" necessary in the following?
Police('s) entering a private house without a warrant is illegal.
I'd appreciate your help.
0
votes
1answer
985 views
Heard (his saying/him saying/him say)
When telling somebody what you did in order to get (to discover, to see) what somebody else did, what should I say?
For example:
Let me hear you say "i got it!"
So I do something in order to get (in ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
can possessive of a noun come before the noun
I have been having some problem with this sentence.
In Blood Creator, his greedy nature and obsessiveness are used as the most significant traits in the characterization of James.
As you can see ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Possession or adjective: “Google's products” vs. “Google products” [closed]
My major responsibility is tuning search results on for several of Google's products.
Is the above sentence correct or should I use Google instead of Google's?
2
votes
2answers
54 views
Can I use the pronoun “who” after an English possessive to refer to the possessor?
Then Mark held Mary's hand, who was still terrified. (Meaning, "Then
Mark held Mary's hand, Mary being still terrified.)
Can I use the pronoun "who" in this case, even if the preceding word is not ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Peeves’ or Peeves’s?
Why would Filch from Harry Potter 2 say: “… go now, I have to write up Peeves’ report … go …”
Would saying Peeves’s have been a mistake?
1
vote
1answer
245 views
What is the meaning of 's in “eat at Joe's”?
When I learned English at school 's was described as the mark of possession, a case of genitive.
But in the rhetorical Eat at Joe's, what does the 's mean exactly. Is it a shortcut for Joe's place or ...
2
votes
3answers
9k views
Yours Lovingly and Yours Loving [closed]
Can an informal Letter end as:
1) Yours Loving,
John
OR
2) Yours Lovingly,
John
OR
3) Your Loving Son,
John
I guess the 2nd and the 3rd ones are okay; I'm not sure about the 1st one, please help....
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Multiple definite articles
The example:
"The/- managers of the/- individual centers will attend the upcoming meeting."
Should I use both definite articles or not when I talk, in this case, about specific managers in charge ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Second “s” in names that ends with the s [duplicate]
Well, it's one particular name from One-Punch Man, Genos.
Sometimes i see it's written as Geno's arm/body parts or something along the line, but not the Genos's arm/body parts.
Where did second s go?
0
votes
3answers
161 views
Can we say “The sound of what is this?” or “This is the sound of what?” (American English)
In American English, can we say either of these sentences interchangeably?
The sound of what is this?
This is the sound of what?
Context: Imagine I heard a sound at home which sounds like it ...
2
votes
3answers
108 views
Use of '“s” only in possession? [duplicate]
I am writing a scientific paper and I wonder if 's is only used refering to a possession.
For example, I think "bird's feathers" is a correct expression, but I wonder if "bird's exposure", meaning ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Usage of “be of”
I've just read an article and saw this sentence:
Hence, characterization of squat cracks is of particular interest for this research.
Why is there a of? If I restructured this like "... cracks is ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
possessive needed? …“to impact patients' lives by…”
Is a possessive needed on the word patients in the following mission statement? I feel it clutters the phrase somewhat and need advice.
To meaningfully impact patients' lives by democratizing ...
4
votes
1answer
149 views
What is the possessive of Saint John's?
We have a city here in Canada named Saint John's. It is always spelt that way; the 's is part of the name (this must be a very unusual case, I'm not sure).
What would be the correct way to refer to ...
