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Edit_gal Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Possessive or not?
Hello,
I have two questions.
1) I am dealing with the following phrase and am trying to figure out if "century" needs to be possessive:
...its Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its 17th century's commercial beginnings.
OR
..its Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its 17th century commercial beginnings.
Many thanks for any advice.
I have two questions.
1) I am dealing with the following phrase and am trying to figure out if "century" needs to be possessive:
...its Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its 17th century's commercial beginnings.
OR
..its Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its 17th century commercial beginnings.
Many thanks for any advice.
Top answer
17th century seems like a noun modifier. It is not a relationship of ownership. ) You can avoid the issue entirely and make it more clear by rewording: ...
- 17th century seems like a noun modifier.
- It is not a relationship of ownership.
- ) You can avoid the issue entirely and make it more clear by rewording: ...
- its Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its commercial beginnings in the 17th century
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5 Answers
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17th century seems like a noun modifier. It is not a relationship of ownership. (The rest of the sentence would have been useful!)
You can avoid the issue entirely and make it more clear by rewording:
... its Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its commercial beginnings in the 17th century
You can avoid the issue entirely and make it more clear by rewording:
... its Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its commercial beginnings in the 17th century
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Thank you for your help so far. The first word should have been "England's":
"England's Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its 17th century's commercial beginnings. "
OR
"England's Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its 17th century commercial beginnings. "
"England's Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its 17th century's commercial beginnings. "
OR
"England's Constitution and legal system continue to evolve from its 17th century commercial beginnings. "
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Do you consider them two things? You use "continue," the plural form of the verb, but then you say "its," which is a singular pronoun.
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Grammar GeekDo you consider them two things? You use "continue," the plural form of the verb, but then you say "its," which is a singular pronoun.Very true - it is unclear what "its" refers to - England? But the British legal system dates to centuries before the 17th century. England dates even earlier. Also a constitution and legal system are ind
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Hi,
Perhaps the meaning is
Its constitutional and legal system continues to evolve from its 17th century commercial beginnings.
The last part still does not make sense, but at least the sente
Perhaps the meaning is
Its constitutional and legal system continues to evolve from its 17th century commercial beginnings.
The last part still does not make sense, but at least the sente
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