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Cp2gd Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Possessive case

Hello,

I have learned that the possessive case should only be used with persons or entities. I have seen the following sentence: "Whether you are reviewing last year’s accounts or preparing next year’s accounts...". In this situation, the possessive case is being used with the word "year" and it doesn't match what I've learned, so I would ask someone to help me understand this usage.

Thanks a lot.

Rui.
  

Top answer

Ruca I have learned that the possessive case should only be used with persons or entities. What do you mean to include in "entities"? The idea that the possessive case can only be used with people or other animate objects is simply incorrect.

— GPY

  • Ruca I have learned that the possessive case should only be used with persons or entities.
  • What do you mean to include in "entities"?
  • The idea that the possessive case can only be used with people or other animate objects is simply incorrect.
  • While arbitrary use with inanimate or abstract nouns may produce unnatural English, there are many examples, such as yours, which are perfectly OK.
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2 Answers
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RucaI have learned that the possessive case should only be used with persons or entities.
What do you mean to include in "entities"?

The idea that the possessive case can only be used with people or other animate objects is simply incorrect. While arbitrary use with inanimate or abstract nouns may produce unnatural English, there are many examples, su
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RucaI have learned that the possessive case should only be used with persons or entities.
Possessive case can be used with any noun (where it makes sense!)
The pronouns have their own inflected possessive case.

Your chair fell over. Its back was broken and my back was sprained.
The atmosphere's composi
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