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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

which form is right

Which of the each pairs is right?

My car’s engine is broken.
My car engine is broken.

My house’s roof is leaking.
My house roof is leaking.

I know if a person owns something it should be with the ... ’s ... as in John’s car is broken, but I am not sure about the above examples.

Thank you.
  

Top answer

The first example in each pair is correct.

— UserTK

  • The first example in each pair is correct.
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9 Answers
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The first example in each pair is correct.
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AnonymousWhich ... right?
My preferences:

My car engine is broken.
My roof is leaking.

house roof? I don't see this as idiomatic.
_________

Personally, I rarely use the 's form of an inanimate noun.

I usually recommend the following.

1. If it's a person, use the pos
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CalifJim AnonymousWhich ... right?My preferences:My car engine is broken.My roof is leaking.house roof? I don't see this as idiomatic._________Personally, I rarely use the 's form of an inanimate noun.I usually recommend the following.1. If it's a person, use the possessive form.2. If it's an inanimate object, try a compound noun.3. If it's an abstraction, the form with "
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AnonymousHow about the 'of form' for inanimate objects in addition to the compound form you suggested?
That sometimes works when the compound noun doesn't work.
AnonymousThe roof of my house ..The engine of my car
These are OK.

CJ
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CalifJim AnonymousHow about the 'of form' for inanimate objects in addition to the compound form you suggested?That sometimes works when the compound noun doesn't work.AnonymousThe roof of my house ..The engine of my carThese are OK.CJ
Got it, Great. An generally as you said the possessive form does not work with inanimate objects and is mainly for people, rig
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Anonymousthe possessive form does not work with inanimate objects and is mainly for people, right?
Right. The only major exceptions are time periods, amounts of money, and a few set expressions.

two hours' work, a day's rest, a dollar's worth of change, for heaven's sake

CJ
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CalifJim Anonymousthe possessive form does not work with inanimate objects and is mainly for people, right?Right. The only major exceptions are time periods, amounts of money, and a few set expressions. two hours' work, a day's rest, a dollar's worth of change, for heaven's sakeCJ
I see. Yes, these seem like they are set expressions!

Just curious, is
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Anonymous"a rest day"
Correct. Also, "a day of rest". Both are correct, but both of them are about the day primarily. They say what kind of day it is. It's a day for resting.

This is not "a day's rest", which is about rest primarily. It says how much rest is involved by saying how long the time of resting is.

a rest day
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CalifJim Anonymous"a rest day"Correct. Also, "a day of rest". Both are correct, but both of them are about the day primarily. They say what kind of day it is. It's a day for resting.This is not "a day's rest", which is about rest primarily. It says how much rest is involved by saying how long the time of resting is.a rest day | a work day (kinds of days)a day's rest | a h
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