Alternative constructs ( possessives)

Question

Hi,1) Ann is at the hairdresser's ( a ) Ann is at the hairdresser ( b )I know that ( a ) and ( b ) are both ok ( M.Swan, Practical English Usage, entry 432 ).Which of the two variations do you ( AmEng speaker?, BrEng speaker?) personally use?If ( b ) is in some way 'inferior' to ( a ) in your opinion, could you please elaborate on the differences between the two?2) He is a cousin of the Queen's ( c ) He is a cousin of the Queen ( d ) . Which of the two is 'more common' in everyday AmEng (from your own experience, not necessarily based on the English corpora or GB Nrgam graphs) Looking forward to your comments...

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

1) Ann is at the hairdresser's ( a ) Ann is at the hairdresser ( b )

Which of the two variations do you ( Canadian Eng speaker) personally use? I think I say both.

If ( b ) is in some way 'inferior' to ( a ) It's not. in your opinion, could you please elaborate on the differences between the two?

2) He is a cousin of the Queen's ( c ) He is a cousin of the Queen ( d ) . Which of the two is 'more common' in everyday AmEng (from your own experience, not necessarily based on the English corpora or GB Nrgam graphs)

In Canada, I hear both.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

AmE. California, USA.

vlivef Ann is at the hairdresser's.

This is how I say it and how I hear it. I don't say or hear the variant without the 's. It sounds wrong to me.

vlivef2) He is a cousin of the Queen's ( c ) He is a cousin of the Queen ( d ) .

I say and hear both of these. I think of (c) as more informal and (d) as more formal. Since I find myself more often in informal settings, I have to say that for me (c) is more common.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much for the info.

Appreciate it.

Alternative constructs ( possessives)

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