0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Mostly on making them possessive or not?
Hi. I am sure whether I should makes the phrase "last year" a possessive or not. Could you tell me whether each of the sentences below is correctly written?
1. The shirt he wore in this year's high school reunion was smaller than last year's.
2. The year-end sales figure for our company was higher than last year's.
3. Last year's year-end sales figure was higher than the figure (that?) for the year before.
4. His eagerness to win at this year's final at the state competition was more noticeable than last year's.
1. The shirt he wore in this year's high school reunion was smaller than last year's.
2. The year-end sales figure for our company was higher than last year's.
3. Last year's year-end sales figure was higher than the figure (that?) for the year before.
4. His eagerness to win at this year's final at the state competition was more noticeable than last year's.
Top answer
In my opinion, they're not idiomatic, because of a lack of parallel structure (or parallel meaning). "This year's" and "last years" refer to different categories of things. (this year's reunion / last year's reunion) (this year's shirt / last year's shirt) You can't assume that "the shirt he wore in" will be carried forward.
- In my opinion, they're not idiomatic, because of a lack of parallel structure (or parallel meaning).
- "This year's" and "last years" refer to different categories of things.
- (this year's reunion / last year's reunion) (this year's shirt / last year's shirt) You can't assume that "the shirt he wore in" will be carried forward.
- You must repeat it.
- The shirt he wore in this year's high school reunion was smaller than the one he wore in last year's.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
In my opinion, they're not idiomatic, because of a lack of parallel structure (or parallel meaning).
"This year's" and "last years" refer to different categories of things.
(this year's reunion / last year's reunion)
(this year's shirt / last year's shirt)
You can't assume that "the shirt he wore in" will be carried forward. You must repeat it.
The shirt he w
"This year's" and "last years" refer to different categories of things.
(this year's reunion / last year's reunion)
(this year's shirt / last year's shirt)
You can't assume that "the shirt he wore in" will be carried forward. You must repeat it.
The shirt he w
00
1. The shirt he wore in this year's high school reunion was smaller than the one he wore at last year's. (But better: than the one he wore last year.)
2. The year-end sales figure for our company was higher than last year's. OK.
3. Last year's year-end sa
2. The year-end sales figure for our company was higher than last year's. OK.
3. Last year's year-end sa
00
Related Questions