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Paulgerty Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Possessive 's/ of with Countries/cities etc

I'm wondering if someone can fill me in on the rule for the following situation:

I live in the center of London. Newcastle is in the north of England. He is the President of Ireland.
This is London's tallest building. He is England's greatest player.

Why is it possible to sometimes use the 's possessive rule in such examples, and sometimes the ...of... structure.

My initial thought is that it's to do with the first being a description, and the latter as being possessive as would be in the following example:

This is a picture of my mother. i.e. I'm describing the picture.
This is my mother's picture. i.e. it belongs to her.

Am I on the right track or is there a better explanation.
  

Top answer

Welcome to English Forums! paulgerty This is a picture of my mother. e.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Welcome to English Forums!
  • paulgerty This is a picture of my mother.
  • e.
  • I'm describing the picture.
  • Correct.
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2 Answers
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Welcome to English Forums!
paulgertyThis is a picture of my mother. i.e. I'm describing the picture.
Correct.
paulgertyThis is my mother's picture. i.e. it belongs to her.
Ambiguous. It could be either.
paulgertyWhy is it possible to sometimes use the 's possessive rule in such examples, and sometimes t
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paulgertyI'm wondering if someone can fill me in on the rule
It's probably not as exact as a rule, but more a matter of common practice among speakers of English. Nevertheless, there are a few patterns that recur often enough to be useful as models.
paulgertyI live in the center of London. Newcastle is in the north of England.
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