The omission of the possessive case

Question

The Star Brand is the name of a number of similar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_book objects of power all of which exist in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse_(Marvel_Comics) created by the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_universe of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Comics. Two of these Star Brands have been prominently featured in two separate series published by Marvel.The original Star Brand is a star-shaped http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo-like mark that first appeared in the comic book series Star Brand, published by Marvel Comics as a part of its http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Universe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imprint_(trade_name) from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_in_comics to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_in_comics. All of the other Star Brands are alternates of this original version. The Star Brand gave its bearer infinite, god-like powers, limited only by the wielder's imagination. After the end of the series and the New Universe imprint, the Star Brand made appearances in Marvel's main shared universe, the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Universe.The second Star Brand is a glowing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyph, shaped like the original Star Brand and giving identical powers. This Star Brand is featured in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newuniversal, a series featuring a universe that is a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remake of the original New Universe that began publication in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_in_comics.I'd like to know why "fictional comic book objects" was used in lieu of "fictional comic book's objects." Thank you in advance for your help.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Non-sentient nouns are seldom used in the possessive case but usually as adjectives.

Deadrat · Answer

The writer has written himself into a corner. He's talking about fictional "objects of power" that appear in Marvel Comics, but he needs the "all of which exist" clause to immediately follow "power" to get "which" to have the right antecedent. That means placing the objects' place (i.e., in comic books) before "objects." And the possessive doesn't quite do it. If he uses the singular possessive "comic book's," then he's only talking about one comic book and the objects appear in multiple comic books. If he uses the plural possessive "comic books'," then he's talking about all comic books in general, and the objects appear only in Marvel Comics. So he uses "comic book" as an attributional adjective meaning objects associated with some comic books.

Notice that "fictional" is out of place as it's position makes it modify "comic book." But the comic books aren't fictional; they're real comic books. It seems odd that he would have to point out that things in comic books are fictional.

You seem to spend a large amount of time reading about comic books, and presumably an equally large time reading them. Are you sure you're not ready to move on to better English literature?

Mister Micawber · Answer

deadratAre you sure you're not ready to move on to better English literature?

We've tried that plea; she is stubbornly addicted to poor writing.

Deadrat · Answer

How sad.  I'll adjust my efforts accordingly.

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you both, Mr.Micawber and deadrat, for your very valuable answer.

I'd like to whether if need be, I can also write "fictional comic book objects" in lieu of "fictional objects in comic book."

The omission of the possessive case

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions