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Sitifan Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Individual possessive

1. Jim's room and Mary's room
2. Jim's and Mary's room
3. Jim's and Mary's rooms
What's the difference in meaning between the above three expressions?
  

Top answer

1. Jim's room and Mary's room -- each has a separate room 2. Jim's and Mary's room -- as #1 3.

— Mister Micawber

  • 1.
  • Jim's room and Mary's room -- each has a separate room 2.
  • Jim's and Mary's room -- as #1 3.
  • Jim's and Mary's rooms-- each has several separate rooms
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6 Answers
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1. Jim's room and Mary's room -- each has a separate room
2. Jim's and Mary's room -- as #1
3. Jim's and Mary's rooms-- each has several separate rooms
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Actually number two should be like this :
2. Jim and Mary's room...

It's called the compound possesion. So they share a room together.
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No, there is no reason why #2 should be like that. That is a 4th permutation.
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http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htm

Compound Possessives

When you are showing possession with compounded nouns, the apostrophe's placement depends on whether the nouns are acting separately or together.
  • Miguel's and Cecilia's new cars are in the parking l
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That's very good, Andrew. It proves my point nicely.
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Sorry, i didn't realize number two was refering to two different rooms. But, I'm just saying if they share their room together, then it should be 'Jim and Mary's room'. :-D no offense, okay?
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