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Hela Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Double genitive
Dear teachers,
1) Since it is preferable to say "He is a friend of my father's" instead of "He is a friend of my father", can we say "He is a friend of the director's brother's" instead of "He is a friend of the director's brother"?
2) Would you call the following construction a double genitive too, or does it take another label?
"the director's brother's friend" --> Is this used in spoken English but not in written English?
Thank you for your patience.
Hela
1) Since it is preferable to say "He is a friend of my father's" instead of "He is a friend of my father", can we say "He is a friend of the director's brother's" instead of "He is a friend of the director's brother"?
2) Would you call the following construction a double genitive too, or does it take another label?
"the director's brother's friend" --> Is this used in spoken English but not in written English?
Thank you for your patience.
Hela
Top answer
As a matter of style, we usually do not use the double genitive when it would create a situation like #1. I have no problem with #2 in writing or in speech.
- As a matter of style, we usually do not use the double genitive when it would create a situation like #1.
- I have no problem with #2 in writing or in speech.
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2 Answers
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As a matter of style, we usually do not use the double genitive when it would create a situation like #1.
I have no problem with #2 in writing or in speech.
I have no problem with #2 in writing or in speech.
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What is construction #2 called, please? Is it also a double genitive or does it have another name?
I know that a double genitive takes an apostrophe s and an of-construction, which not the case of "the doctor's brother's friend".
Many thanks
I know that a double genitive takes an apostrophe s and an of-construction, which not the case of "the doctor's brother's friend".
Many thanks
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