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Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
genitives
Hi,
I think there are different classifications to the general term called the 'genitive'.
These are few things I know about the genitive:
There is the possessive genitive where the notion of possessiveness is manifested. Then, there is a classifying genitive where the part in apostrophes is acting as a modifier or adjective like in 'a girl's school' or 'a learner's manual'.
I think CalifJim mentioned that for possessive cases, the following equation would work well.
the dog's bone -- the bone of the dog
a dog's bone -- the bone of a dog
But this test wouldn't apply for what I call the 'classifying genitive' (should I put quotation marks for the too like this 'the classifying genitive'? How could I know how and when to put quotation marks correctly for the situations like this?), would it?
a Learner's manual -- applying the forementioned test, it would be (if I am right) 'the manual of a Learner' and that wouldn't seem right.
a girl's school -- applying the same test, it would be 'the school of a girl' and that doesn't seem right.
So, only for those cases showing possession are good for the test, right?
I think there are different classifications to the general term called the 'genitive'.
These are few things I know about the genitive:
There is the possessive genitive where the notion of possessiveness is manifested. Then, there is a classifying genitive where the part in apostrophes is acting as a modifier or adjective like in 'a girl's school' or 'a learner's manual'.
I think CalifJim mentioned that for possessive cases, the following equation would work well.
the dog's bone -- the bone of the dog
a dog's bone -- the bone of a dog
But this test wouldn't apply for what I call the 'classifying genitive' (should I put quotation marks for the too like this 'the classifying genitive'? How could I know how and when to put quotation marks correctly for the situations like this?), would it?
a Learner's manual -- applying the forementioned test, it would be (if I am right) 'the manual of a Learner' and that wouldn't seem right.
a girl's school -- applying the same test, it would be 'the school of a girl' and that doesn't seem right.
So, only for those cases showing possession are good for the test, right?
Top answer
Hi Believer What's wrong with the manual of a learner? It makes good sense to me. A girl's school is of course technically correct English but I have never heard of a school meant for one girl only.
- Hi Believer What's wrong with the manual of a learner?
- It makes good sense to me.
- A girl's school is of course technically correct English but I have never heard of a school meant for one girl only.
- If there are more girls, it is a girls' school.
- CB
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1 Answers
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Hi Believer
What's wrong with the manual of a learner? It makes good sense to me. A girl's school is of course technically correct English but I have never heard of a school meant for one girl only. If there are more girls, it is a girls' school.
CB
What's wrong with the manual of a learner? It makes good sense to me. A girl's school is of course technically correct English but I have never heard of a school meant for one girl only. If there are more girls, it is a girls' school.
CB
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