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Kobra Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Possessives
Which is correct and why?
a) I am a friend of your mama.
b) I am a friend of your mama's.
Thanks,
a) I am a friend of your mama.
b) I am a friend of your mama's.
Thanks,
Top answer
I am a friend of your mama's. This is an instance of the double possessive construction. It is used to ensure we can differentiate between: A picture of my father" (in which we see the the father) and A picture of my father's" (a picture which he owns).
- I am a friend of your mama's.
- This is an instance of the double possessive construction.
- It is used to ensure we can differentiate between: A picture of my father" (in which we see the the father) and A picture of my father's" (a picture which he owns).
- so...
- we would NOT say "a friend of the museum's" but "a friend of the museum": the museum itself, brick and mortar, DOES NOT regard me or someone else as a personal friend!
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1 Answers
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I am a friend of your mama's.
This is an instance of the double possessive construction. It is used to ensure we can differentiate between:
A picture of my father" (in which we see the the father)
and
A picture of my father's" (a picture which he owns).
Generally, what follows the "of" in a double possessive will be human...so... we would NOT say "a f
This is an instance of the double possessive construction. It is used to ensure we can differentiate between:
A picture of my father" (in which we see the the father)
and
A picture of my father's" (a picture which he owns).
Generally, what follows the "of" in a double possessive will be human...so... we would NOT say "a f
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