Could you tell me which sentence is correct?

Question

Hi,Which do think is correct?He is a patient of Dr. Shafritz.He is a patient of Dr. Shafritz's.

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Either one. Especially with a name that ends in the S sound already, the Shafritz's may sound awkward.

What do you think about "She is a patient of Dr. Smith/Smith's"

I think I'm learning toward the non-apostrophe with patient. However, with "friend" I'd use the 's version.

Tipsee1 · Answer

Hi,

Yes, you are right. It does sound odd, but that is how the doctor dictated. I was wondering if he was wrong. I think I will change it to the first version as you suggested. Thanks.

Philip · Answer

The double genetive [of + 's] is very popular, and some consider it to be fine. I find it irritating and advise my students to avoid it. [Similar: "a friend of mine" ~ "one of my friends" - you can guess which one I use.]

Tipsee1 · Answer

Thank you Philip.   I would definitely not use the phrase "a friend of mine."

CalifJim · Answer

tipsee1Which do think is correct?

He is a patient of Dr. Shafritz.

He is a patient of Dr. Shafritz's.

Only the second one sounds right to me.

CJ

Tipsee1 · Answer

Now you have really confused me!!! You mean there is no contemporary school of linguistics which states that "this sentence is definitely wrong, you cannot use it this way"  or "this is how the Brits use it, in America we use it differently" or "well you can use it either way but this is preferable" etc.

BarbaraPA · Answer

No, there is no hard and fast rule.

The double genitive (a friend of Peter's, a student of Dr. Milller's, a patient of Dr. Phillips's) is okay, as is the "one of" construction: One of Peter's friends, one of Dr. Miller's students, one of Dr. Phillips's patients).

As you can see, Philip doesn't care for it. Jim says only the 's version works for him.

I have heard people attempt to explain it by saying whether the person would "claim" the subject. An enemy of my father vs. An enemy of my father's because my father wouldn't claim the person as his enemy. I'm not sure that makes any sense to me.

Add to the mix the fact that you can also choose to use the ' or the 's with a name ending with an S sound. I would say Phillips's or Davis's or James's but others would say Phillips' or Davis' or James'. So your hope of a one universal answer diminishes.

By the way, I would certainly say "A friend of mine."

There are a few threads on this "double genitive" in English Forums - as well as in other ESL forums, such as this one: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1096023

CalifJim · Answer

Grammar Geekexplain it by saying whether the person would "claim" the subject

Yes. That "kinda, sorta" works for me. But you wouldn't use the double genitive with an inanimate object, I don't think, but I could be wrong. A symphony of Mozart. A novel of Hardy. Difficult topic.

CJ

Tipsee1 · Answer

Thanks so much!

BarbaraPA · Answer

CalifJim
Grammar Geekexplain it by saying whether the person would "claim" the subject
Yes. That "kinda, sorta" works for me. But you wouldn't use the double genitive with an inanimate object, I don't think, but I could be wrong. A symphony of Mozart. A novel of Hardy. Difficult topic.

CJ

I think we would for the thing "being claimed" - I like the example of

A picture of Alex. -- Alex is the subject of the picture.

A picture of Alex's. -- Alex either owns the picture or took/drew the picture.

But not: A feature of the picture's. A phrase of the symphony's.

All this shows is that we won't have universal agreement, will we? (But universal confusion? We can probably agree on that!)

Could you tell me which sentence is correct?

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