Questions tagged [possessives]
Questions about the possessive, one of several constructions that describe ownership or association between two objects.
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Possessive gerund [on hold]
He being careless cost him many opportunities.
His being careless cost him many opportunities.
What is correct "he being" or "his being" ? & Why?
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0answers
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How does one pronounce “Miles's”? [on hold]
I know: this might be a duplicate.
I've read the others.
I'm still confused.
Some people say "M-eye-lz" and others "M-eye-lzes."
Are both pronunciations acceptable? Or is one colloquial while the ...
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4answers
99 views
My friend, Adam's birthday or My friend's, Adam's birthday [duplicate]
Which one is correct?
It is my friend's, Adam's birthday.
It is my friend, Adam's birthday.
Does the word 'friend' need an apostrophe to show possession?
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2answers
40 views
If my grandparent is deceased, do I refer to them as “is” or “was” my grandparent?
How does this work when the person being referenced is deceased? Which of these is correct?
John was my grandfather.
John is my grandfather.
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3answers
82 views
How to form possessive for a list of people? “(Jane Doe and I)'s” [duplicate]
I'm writing a sentence, and I'm not sure if it's grammatically correct.
Here are my partner, Jane Doe, and I's completed assignment.
Would this be alright? I never know how to properly use ...
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1answer
33 views
When introducing an initialism for the first time in a paper, but the noun is possessive, do I make the initialism possessive as well?
E.G., "Mobile network operator's (MNO's) networks are overloaded."
Or
"Mobile network operator's (MNO) networks are overloaded."
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2answers
47 views
First of these's?
Say a list of things has already been mentioned.
How do I refer to an attribute of the first thing in said list?
"The first-of-these's attribute"
"The first's attribute"
edit: thanks for the ...
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1answer
27 views
What is the structure of “dorm room door”? Is it genitive?
I wonder where we can make genitive without 's or of. I know that using "of" in "dorm room door" might be complicated but the question is when we are allowed to make such phrases.
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3answers
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“me's” when referring to another version of you?
Let's say I want to refer to a toy that I had when I was younger. Would it be incorrect to say "young me's toy"?
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1answer
34 views
Estonia's forests or Estonian forests? [closed]
Which use is correct in sentences such as:
Estonia's state forests are managed....
The importance and role of Estonia's forests in cultural history.
Estonia's forest area increased ...
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0answers
45 views
What I resented was [Kim mistreating my cat]. Why is [] a subordinate clause?
I intended Kim to interview both candidates. [raised object]
I intended for Kim to interview both candidates. [subject]
As shown above, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language analyzes an ...
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0answers
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“worth” with possessive(s) in coordinated nominals
According to Garner Modern English Grammar
The idiomatic possessive should be used with periods of time and
statements of worth — 30 days’ notice (i.e., notice of 30 days), three
days’ time, ...
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1answer
153 views
Analyzing 'genitive/accusative + V-ing phrase (gerund-participle phrase)' as different constructions
(1) I regretted [his leaving the firm].
(2) I regretted [him leaving the firm].
(3) I regretted [leaving the firm].
(4) He didn’t bother [giving me a copy].
Regarding the above ...
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1answer
45 views
“John and Me's ping pong game” [duplicate]
If you played someone in a game of ping pong, and wanted to refer to the game later, you could refer to it as "our game". For instance:
"It was after our game."
But if I were talking to a different ...
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votes
1answer
160 views
with/without + pronoun (me vs. my) + gerund-participial phrase
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (Page 461) has this section:
(f) Subject of clausal complement of with/without
Pronouns in this position normally appear in accusative case:
[...
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2answers
55 views
Is apostrophe needed in this case?
Which of the following would be correct?
"Improve the population quality of life" or "Improve the population's quality of life?"
I could bypass this whole situation by simply using "Improve the ...
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vote
1answer
339 views
Should I write each “team's”, “teams” or “team” captain?
I'm writing about the captains of sport teams. Each team has one and only one captain. I'm confused on how to express this :
We will communicate this information to ...
each team captain
each team'...
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1answer
27 views
Ambiguity with two possessive pronouns in a sentence
Is it clear who the first and second "their" refer to in the following sentence, or is the sentence likely to confuse the reader --
"It has been decided between the parties that party number 1 will ...
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1answer
52 views
Apostrophe Use In Abbreviated Decade Which Is Also A Possessive
I always put apostrophes before abbreviated decades. Ex: The '60s.
However, what if you want to abbreviate a decade that is also possessive of the word that comes after it? Ex: Classic dance genres ...
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0answers
32 views
Correct way to write this compound possessive? [duplicate]
The scenario is that both Alex and Yuval need to review the pull request.
What is the correct way to write it in English?
Pull request awaits Alex and Yuval reviews.
Pull request awaits Alex's and ...
2
votes
0answers
51 views
Possessive pronoun/object pronoun + Gerund
I have been thinking about this for quite a while and have done some research on it. What I have learned is that possessive pronoun+gerund is a structure that's more "formal", while object pronoun + ...
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2answers
79 views
Grammaticality of 'that' relative clause in phrase beginning with possessive pronoun [duplicate]
I would like to ask about the grammaticality of a 'that' relative clause modifying a noun phrase that begins with a possessive pronoun. Please consider these examples:
Please send in your ...
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0answers
41 views
Pronunciation of 's after word ending in “is”, “es”
Alexis's sister. Is it pronounced Alec sis sister or Alec sis sis sister?
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1answer
93 views
plural possessive of Woods [closed]
How do you make the last name Woods plural possessive?
example: a friend of the Woods (2 people)
I assume it is Woodses, but have been "corrected" by someone.
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vote
1answer
32 views
how to attribute a singular property to a plural noun?
Please consider the following examples:
The size/sizes of the planets is/are written here.
The door/doors of a 100 houses is/are 100Kg.
Men's nose/noses is/are bigger than that/those of women.
Which ...
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1answer
163 views
Is “it's” or “its” possessive? [closed]
For a very long time now I've been using "it's" as the possessive form for "it". There have been some people that have said "its" is the possessive form, but I'm not sure if that's true. "It's" seems ...
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2answers
44 views
Possessive when using a title
Which is correct:
Mary Queen of Scots birthplace
Mary Queen of Scots' birthplace?
2
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1answer
25 views
“Can you send me Fred and your flight information?” [duplicate]
This doesn't quite sound right but might be right. Consider
"Can you send me Fred and Amy's flight information?" This is correct via The Chicago Manual of Style.
Alternatively,
"Can you send me ...
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votes
1answer
30 views
“My Articles' Comments” or “My Article Comments” | “My Reviews' Comments” or “My Review Comments”
I need to add menu items (filters) on my website but I'm not sure which one is correct:
My Articles' Comments
My Reviews' Comments
OR
My Article Comments
My Review Comments
For example, if you ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
“Garry is my brother's Jack son.”
My son was given this worksheet. He wrote the word Jack in the lower right box and Garry above it in chart 2. I think he got it backwards, but does the sentence "Garry is my brother's Jack son" make ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Users wrists or user's wrists - addressing all wrists of users [closed]
I am launching new wearable software company with motto: Get your service on users wrists and I am not sure if it should be users or user's.
By the motto, I want to tell that you can get your ...
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1answer
45 views
possessives and number (sing./pl)
I'm revising a text containing these two sentences:
a) Students’ sex was coded by using their first names. b) Students’
birthday was self-reported in the survey,
I'm sure the correct version ...
2
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1answer
82 views
Several tricky questions about the use of possessive case [closed]
In my excercise book there are several examples in the "Possessive case" section, which I can't understand properly.
1) The ___ history goes back to 1808.
A) state's newspaper
B) state newspaper'...
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0answers
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Does the apostrophe come before or after the s when the noun is less than one?
I have a noun, "second", that I need to make possessive in the sentence,
It's like having a second's slower reflexes.
When I make it plural, the apostrophe comes after the s.
It's like having ...
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votes
2answers
290 views
Does a possessive still require an apostrophe when a noun has been omitted to avoid repetition?
This is quite hard to explain (and seemingly impossible to search for on Google) so here's an example: In relation to dogs and their owners (masters), I saw this sentence: "Their understanding of the ...
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1answer
34 views
Manager news or manager's news
I am setting a label for news only visible to managers.
The two suggestions I have for phrasing is
Manager news
Manager's news
The second one feels intuitively wrong, but I googled a bit and found ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Why is the genitive case necessary/unecessary in the examples below?
I speak English as a second language, and I ran into something this week that I couldn't explain, even though I could understand its meaning. While reading an artcle entitled "More people now ...
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1answer
38 views
Possessive of a possessive [duplicate]
There is a sign at my work that says "Join the fight for Alzheimer's first survivor" and I am wondering about the use of "Alzheimer's" here. They are not reffering to a survivor of Alzheimer, they are ...
2
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1answer
50 views
Plural noun or singular noun + possessive
When the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on July 9, 1868 —150 years ago this Monday — it closed the door on schemes that aimed to make the U.S. a white man’s country. (source)
I ...
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1answer
66 views
Word for the object that hangs from something else (“hangee”)
From nasa.gov
A satellite is an object that moves around a larger object.
What is the word for an object that hangs from another object?
an ornament on a Christmas tree
a figure on a (baby) mobile
...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
How to use possessives when the subject has a number after? [duplicate]
I have a question about possessives.
While "Peter's ball" is easy and clear.
How do I express the notion of "the ball that belongs to agent 2"?
Would it be "agent's 2 ball" or "agent 2's ball" or ...
7
votes
1answer
176 views
When did “our” stop being used as an adjective (as in “other our dominions”, “any our Subjects”)?
While reading a letter written by Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1588, I came across a certain construction that doesn't seem to be grammatical in English:
RIGHT trustie, and righte welbelovid ...
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votes
1answer
83 views
British-English - My v Mine [duplicate]
I would like to know which of the options below is correct:
'It is mine and John's favourite'
'It is my and John's favourite'
Or if both are incorrect, what would be the correct way to phrase this?
2
votes
1answer
53 views
How to use apostrophes for repeated possessives? [closed]
As I get older I become more pedantic. I recently wanted to write a message explaining my dread of going to weddings of children of my friends.
Which of the following is correct:
I am dreading ...
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3answers
142 views
Why is the phrase “for the life of me”?
I can’t understand why the phrase “for the life of me” isn’t “for the life of mine.” Mine is a possessive pronoun, not me. You don’t say, “Some friends of me.” You say, “Some friends of mine” OR “Some ...
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1answer
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Should I use the possessive apostrophe or an attribute noun on a business card?
I have designed some stationary items (such as letterhead and business card) for a website/brand (XYZ.Com for instance), and I need help to choose the correct sentence among those below:
The ...
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3answers
70 views
Is “one” correctly used in that sentence?
I've used this sentence but it just sounds wrong a posteriori:
"The missing data is the weekends' one."
I'm trying to say data is missing only on the weekends.
I know there are more elegant ways ...
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votes
1answer
72 views
Possessive after proper name
The Penguin Guide to Pronunciation says:
"A name ending in S takes only an apostrophe if the possessive form is not pronounced with an extra s. Hence:
Socrates' philosophy, Saint Saens' music
Ulysses'...
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1answer
120 views
Parking sign apostrophe? [duplicate]
Should there be an apostrophe in the sign "residents parking". A quick Google search suggests there shouldn't. But why not? Is "residents" an adjective?
4
votes
1answer
78 views
Mnemotechnic approach to identifying transitive vs verb-adjective constructs
I'm no linguist, grammarian and not even an english speaker, please bear with me. I'm looking for a quick way to identify transitive vs intransitive constructs, for example, in the sentence
"the ...
