Director of photography or photography director?

Question

I know that adjectives in English comes before nouns in the majority of cases. But I get doubtful sometimes. Can anybody tell me how to proceed and why? Thx!

director of photography or photography director?
sun gate or gate of the sun?
the sounds of english or the english sound?
school of english or english school?
street dance or dance of street?
tango dancer or dancer of tango?
to a paradise of love and joy or to a love and joy paradise?

Philip · Accepted Answer

buddyleoI know that adjectives in English comes before nouns in the majority of cases. But I get doubtful sometimes. Can anybody tell me how to proceed and why? Thx!

director of photography or photography director?

sun gate or gate of the sun?

the sounds of english or the english sound?

school of english or english school?

street dance or dance of street?

tango dancer or dancer of tango?

to a paradise of love and joy or to a love and joy paradise?

Because there may be several directors of a film, I would go with "director of photography".

Gate of the sun (don't know why: it just sounds better)

Sounds of English (the reverse might refer to an accent)

School of English = where English is taught;

English school = where English is the language used to teach

Street dance

Tango dancer (Clive, however, might go with "dancer of Tango")

to a paradise of love and joy

P.S. Welcome to the Forums!

Clive · Answer

Hi,

No, I agree. The common expression is definitely 'tango dancer'.

'Dancer of tango' sounds grandiloquent and pretentious.

Best wishes, Clive

Director of photography or photography director?

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