The city of Rome

Question

Hello....Merriam-Webster dictionary explains like this:8a—used as a function word to indicate a particular example belonging to the class denoted by the preceding noun  of Rome&gt;8b—used as a function word to indicate apposition  of a husband&gt;What I’d like to know is...1. What happens if “the” is used, as in “that fool of the husband” or “the city of the NP ”2. the unconditional love of the FatherWithout any further context, and no further knowledge, can this be understood to mean “the unconditional love which is the the Father”, in native’s sense of English?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

pructus“that fool of the husband”

This is not used. This idiom always ends with an indefinite NP. that fool of a husband

pructus“the city of the NP ”

I have no idea what you could put there as the NP using definition 8a. I'm inclined to say that this is not used.

pructus2. the unconditional love of the Father Without any further context, and no further knowledge, can this be understood to mean “the unconditional love which is the the? Father”, in native’s sense of English?

Without further context, as you say, I take the theme of this sentence to be religious, and I take "the Father" to be "***". Therefore, to me, it's "the unconditional love of ***", or stated differently, "***'s unconditional love". This construction is not the quasi-appositive construction mentioned in those dictionary definitions 8a and 8b. It's a plain case of possession as is also shown by the "apostrophe s" pattern.

CJ

Pructus · Answer

I see... I see...
Problems and questions all solved....
Thanks so much, CJ!!

The city of Rome

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions