0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
He has a car like John Doe or John Doe's
Hi. Please help. What is the difference? As for me, the number 1 sentence indicates both him and John Doe having car and the number 2 sentence indicates his having the same type of car as John Doe.
1. He has a car like John Doe.
2. He has a car like John Doe's.
1. He has a car like John Doe.
2. He has a car like John Doe's.
Top answer
1. He has a car like John Doe. This does not seem natural.
- 1.
- He has a car like John Doe.
- This does not seem natural.
- The more natural sentences are: He has a car and so does John Doe.
- Both he and John Doe have cars.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
1. He has a car like John Doe. This does not seem natural. The more natural sentences are: He has a car and so does John Doe. Both he and John Doe have cars.
2. He has a car like John Doe's. Yes. His car is similar to John Doe's car.
2. He has a car like John Doe's. Yes. His car is similar to John Doe's car.
00
Hi. Thank you. According to Cambridge Dictionary Online, one of the two definitions of the word "comport" as a verb is this:
US formal If an idea or statement, etc. comports, it matches or is similar to something else
Could we write "someone else's," instead of "something else"?
US formal If an idea or statement, etc. comports, it matches or is similar to something else
Could we write "someone else's," instead of "something else"?
00
Comport is not a word that is used very often, and I've never heard it used in everyday conversations.
Most often I have seen it with the definition "behave oneself"
He comported himself admirably in the face of stinging opposition.
I suppose this might work in the sense of the second definition:
His beliefs and practices comported with those of Gandhi.
Most often I have seen it with the definition "behave oneself"
He comported himself admirably in the face of stinging opposition.
I suppose this might work in the sense of the second definition:
His beliefs and practices comported with those of Gandhi.
00
Also
His car resembles John Doe's car.
or
His car resembles that of John Doe's.
His car resembles John Doe's car.
or
His car resembles that of John Doe's.
00
Thank you, AlpheccaStars and Ivanhr. I wish either of you could help with this too. Which is correct, John Doe or John Doe's?
He has an idea that isn't as good as John Doe (or John Doe's).
I think this is correct, and it is incorrect to write "He has a car that is as big as John Doe" when the sentence refers to the cars (both his and John Doe's car) and their size.
He has an idea that isn't as good as John Doe (or John Doe's).
I think this is correct, and it is incorrect to write "He has a car that is as big as John Doe" when the sentence refers to the cars (both his and John Doe's car) and their size.
00
You need the possessive (John Doe's). The only exception I can think of is when talking about relationships.
He's a friend of my father's.
or
He's a friend of my father.
He's a friend of my father's.
or
He's a friend of my father.
00
AnonymousI think this is correct, and it is incorrect to write "He has a car that is as big as John Doe" when the sentence refers to the cars (both his and John Doe's car) and their size.That's right.
His car is as big as John Doe. ~ The car and the person named 'John Doe' are equally big.
His car is as big as John Doe's. ~ His
0
Related Questions