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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Make it possessive or adjectival?
Hi. If I am not mistaken, I think, for some phrases like "Republican opposition" and (what you might see in a history book) "American territory," you can either make the phrase a possessive like "Republicans' opposition" and "Americans' territory."
What should I look for when making a decision to write one way or the other (if I need to write one)?
What should I look for when making a decision to write one way or the other (if I need to write one)?
Top answer
Those are two particularly poor examples because the possessive is wrong in both cases. If you have a choice-- that is, in cases where actual possession is meant (the Republicans do not 'possess' their opposition, nor does 'American' mean all the Americans)-- then opting for the adjective is generally the simpler-- and wiser-- course.
- Those are two particularly poor examples because the possessive is wrong in both cases.
- If you have a choice-- that is, in cases where actual possession is meant (the Republicans do not 'possess' their opposition, nor does 'American' mean all the Americans)-- then opting for the adjective is generally the simpler-- and wiser-- course.
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5 Answers
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Those are two particularly poor examples because the possessive is wrong in both cases. If you have a choice-- that is, in cases where actual possession is meant (the Republicans do not 'possess' their opposition, nor does 'American' mean all the Americans)-- then opting for the adjective is generally the simpler-- and wiser-- course.
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Hi. Thank you. Please help me these.
Does this show possession? Whose opposition? Republicans - their opposition. Of course, they don't own the opposition. But I think we can say (look at in the way) the opposition is theirs - roughly? - since the opposition is from them.
As to the phrase one might encounter in a history book, "American territory," I would ask this question: W
Does this show possession? Whose opposition? Republicans - their opposition. Of course, they don't own the opposition. But I think we can say (look at in the way) the opposition is theirs - roughly? - since the opposition is from them.
As to the phrase one might encounter in a history book, "American territory," I would ask this question: W
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I have already responded to those in my previous post, where I disagreed with those interpretations.
An example of an equal choice: There's an antelope's head / an antelope head mounted above my mantel.
An example of an equal choice: There's an antelope's head / an antelope head mounted above my mantel.
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Hi. I am a little confused. Please help. Are you saying the possessives (all possessive cases) are made (should be made?) when actual possession is meant. I seem to see many possessive cases where possession is not apparently present.
eg,
1. Earth's surface -- It doesn't seem right to think this denotes Earth's owning the surface. Help.
2. (I think the phrase you will
eg,
1. Earth's surface -- It doesn't seem right to think this denotes Earth's owning the surface. Help.
2. (I think the phrase you will
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