Unit 3.2
Possessive Case with Double Genitive
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Introduction
The possessive form is used to talk about things that belong to a person, object or animal.
The double genitive occurs when we find two possessives together in the same sentence.
Form
We form the possessive case with double genitive by putting the preposition of before a noun which also takes apostrophe and -s (‘s).
Its structure in the sentence is:
Subject + verb + (object) + of + noun + possessive (‘s)…
Subject + verb + (object) + of + possessive pronoun
Example
- This is a cousin of George‘s.
- Winnie-the-Pooh is a friend of Piglet‘s.
- It’s the password of Mark‘s.
- The postman is a neighbour of mine.
- This is the SIM card of hers.
- It is the keyboard of theirs.
Use
We use the possessive case with double genitives when we find two possessives together in the same sentence to clarify the relation of possession.
Summary
We find the possessive case with double genitive in the same sentence to clarify the relation of possession.
The structure is:
- the subject followed by a verb (and potentially by an object), of and a noun in the possessive case (‘s);
- the subject followed by a verb (and potentially by an object), of and a possessive pronoun.
For example:
— “Alfonso is a friend of Miriana’s.” = There are two possessives in this sentence: of and ‘s. Therefore we call this structure the double genitive.
— “This is the SIM card of hers.” = There are two possessives in this sentence: of and the possessive pronoun hers.
♦ “This is his password.” = When there is a possessive pronoun (e.g. his), we do not add the second possessive.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.
Exercises
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