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Kangiten Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Another question about genitive
Hello everyone 
I know that in English, the genitive is used to indicate a possession (John's car) and is not supposed to be used for inanimate subjects.
However, I wonder if this rule is to be applied strictly or if the use of genitive has become usual.
For instance, is it really shocking for a native speaker to see the following
"The server's name" rather than "the name of the server"
"The site's interface" rather than "the interface of the site"
"The metric's value" rather than "the value of the metric"
"The password's characters" rather than "the characters of the password)
You may have guessed that I'm working on an IT-related document
and I have a feeling that constantly using the "of" form weighs the document down.
Can I have any opinion on this?
I know that in English, the genitive is used to indicate a possession (John's car) and is not supposed to be used for inanimate subjects.
However, I wonder if this rule is to be applied strictly or if the use of genitive has become usual.
For instance, is it really shocking for a native speaker to see the following
"The server's name" rather than "the name of the server"
"The site's interface" rather than "the interface of the site"
"The metric's value" rather than "the value of the metric"
"The password's characters" rather than "the characters of the password)
You may have guessed that I'm working on an IT-related document
and I have a feeling that constantly using the "of" form weighs the document down.Can I have any opinion on this?
Top answer
If I'm not wrong, there's also the possibility of writing "the server name", "the site interface", aso...
- If I'm not wrong, there's also the possibility of writing "the server name", "the site interface", aso...
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7 Answers
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If I'm not wrong, there's also the possibility of writing "the server name", "the site interface", aso... ?
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As a native speaker, I would not be troubled by "the server's name" and similar phrases. In fact, I had never heard of the rule that the Saxon genitive (the 's form) was only to be used with animate subjects until I started reading this board; nor had I ever heard it called the "Saxon genitive." However, I think Pieanne's suggested version ("the site interface" etc.)
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Thanks for the reply.
In fact, choosing the right form is always difficult for me. The 's form does not shock me either, maybe I'm just trying to stick too much to what I was taught in school.
In my example, "metric" is a word used to describe "a measurement of a factor in a program" (for instance, the number of bytes received).
It has nothing to do with the metric syste
In fact, choosing the right form is always difficult for me. The 's form does not shock me either, maybe I'm just trying to stick too much to what I was taught in school.
In my example, "metric" is a word used to describe "a measurement of a factor in a program" (for instance, the number of bytes received).
It has nothing to do with the metric syste
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I have another problem: when I write " My friend's book" with singular noun I haven't problem,
how should it be with plural nouns? Maybe "My friends's book"? It seems strange...
how should it be with plural nouns? Maybe "My friends's book"? It seems strange...
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It's "my friends' book", when the owner's name is in the plural and ending in -s; just add the '
If the plural of the noun doesn't end in -s (child > children), then you add the '+s
Ex: This is the children's room/ This is my parents' room.
If the plural of the noun doesn't end in -s (child > children), then you add the '+s
Ex: This is the children's room/ This is my parents' room.
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