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Hanuman_2000 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

possessive

Hello,

1. The right side og statue's torso was missing.

As I was taught ,possessive case is only possible for living things(time and few others also possible).

why possessive case of "statue" has been used here?
  

Top answer

The possesive can be used for anything, not just living things (I've heard of others who have been taught the same rule as you, I'd be interested in where it came from, as it certainly isn't correct). 'Statue's torso' is fine. As are 'the book's cover, the plate's pattern, the car's engine, the building's roof, the cupboard's shelf, the train's wheels', etc etc etc.

— Anonymous

  • The possesive can be used for anything, not just living things (I've heard of others who have been taught the same rule as you, I'd be interested in where it came from, as it certainly isn't correct).
  • 'Statue's torso' is fine.
  • As are 'the book's cover, the plate's pattern, the car's engine, the building's roof, the cupboard's shelf, the train's wheels', etc etc etc.
  • If something belongs to something else - even in the sense of being part of the whole - then use the possessive.
  • Nona the Brit (can't get logged in today).
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23 Answers
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The possesive can be used for anything, not just living things (I've heard of others who have been taught the same rule as you, I'd be interested in where it came from, as it certainly isn't correct).

'Statue's torso' is fine. As are 'the book's cover, the plate's pattern, the car's engine, the building's roof, the cupboard's shelf, the train's wheels', etc etc etc. If something belongs t
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<'Statue's torso' is fine. As are 'the book's cover, the plate's pattern, the car's engine, the building's roof, the cupboard's shelf, the train's wheels', etc etc etc. If something belongs to something else - even in the sense of being part of the whole - then use the possessive.>

Do you really say things such as:

the car's door

the hotel's window

Think a
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Nona the BritThe possesive can be used for anything, not just living things ... If something belongs to something else - even in the sense of being part of the whole - then use the possessive.

How about 'anniversary's celebration'?

Regards,

Slava

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<So we don't always choose to use the "possessive".>

I agree.
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<How about 'anniversary's celebration'?> Emotion: surprise [:^)]
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Emotion: big smile

I wonder if there's a simple rule explaining the use of the possessive case....
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Simple? I don't know. Certainly, we say "table leg" some of the time. But if you want to show how that particular table leg was different, you would use the possessive.

That table's leg is marred. I wonder if they will sell it to us at a discount.

The car's front door was damaged in the accident.

The hotel's windows were decorated for the holidays.

In th
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I thought, if something is part of something, the partitive case (introduced by the partitive preposition 'of') should be used; and the possessive case is of those who can possess, ergo living beings...

Confused,

Slava
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As Nona (anonymously) said, many who come here seem to have this "rule," but it's not logical. The possive can and is used with inanimate objects.

It's awkward an unnecessarily wordy to always say "the leg of this table" or the "door of the car."

This table's leg is damaged - maybe they'll give it to us at a discount. The "it" is clearly the table.

The leg of this tabl
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