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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2012 6:03:24 GMT
An idyllic holiday in Thailand is being somewhat spoiled by the number of mistakes we are encountering in our reading matter and the subsequent discussions.
"In a years time..." has got us all squabbling.
I don't think it is possessive because it is not the time of the year (that means something else)
I suppose strictly it only needs to be "in a year..."
Any comments?
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Post by Dave on Jan 5, 2012 8:01:08 GMT
Welcome, tomfhough. If you're including time in your phrase, then the possessive (with an apostrophe) is used: In a year's time we'll return to this hotel. As you've pointed out, time is somewhat superfluous: In a year we'll return to this hotel. There are cases where the noun needs to be there, in which case the possessive is called for: I was given only a week's notice to find a new apartment. If more than one, use the plural possessive: Three months' exposure to sunlight deteriorated the newspaper. |
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Post by Vadim on Jan 5, 2012 15:57:28 GMT
I was given only a week's notice to find a new apartment. Could this not be written: I was given only a week to find a new apartment. |
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Post by Dave on Jan 5, 2012 16:03:54 GMT
I was given only a week's notice to find a new apartment. Could this not be written: I was given only a week to find a new apartment. Yes. Most (all?) of these type of statements can be rewritten without the use of the possessive. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2012 18:01:30 GMT
Replying to Vadim -if we stopped using the possessive,which as you say is possible in most cases, you'd have nothing to ponder over!!
I would say that "weeks notice"does not need an apostrophe as week is the name given to the notice- notice does not belong to the week.
Please treat me gently -I only joined this forum activity today in order to avoid taking Christmas decorations down; perhaps I should have been more focused and left you all alone.
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Post by Twoddle on Jan 5, 2012 19:36:11 GMT
Replying to Vadim -if we stopped using the possessive,which as you say is possible in most cases, you'd have nothing to ponder over!! I would say that "weeks notice"does not need an apostrophe as week is the name given to the notice- notice does not belong to the week. Please treat me gently -I only joined this forum activity today in order to avoid taking Christmas decorations down; perhaps I should have been more focused and left you all alone. It's "notice of one week", Janey, so when rewritten it needs the apostrophe: "one week's notice". Forget the Christmas decorations; this forum's far more interesting. |
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Post by Sue M-V on Jan 6, 2012 17:28:55 GMT
I would say that "weeks notice"does not need an apostrophe as week is the name given to the notice- notice does not belong to the week. If you want to test your theory rigorously, try applying it to other similar instances and see how you get on. Let us know! It's always nice to have some new blood in the forum (no implied reference to vampirism intended) As Twoddle says, this forum's a very good excuse not only for not taking down Christmas decorations, but also: not washing up, not tidying up, not washing the car, not mowing the lawn ... the list is endless! That may be why it's called the "Not-the-APS" message board. Sue |
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Post by Twoddle on Jan 6, 2012 19:08:12 GMT
I think we should explain that "possession" in this respect doesn't necessarily mean ownership; it's more of a loose association. A mirror doesn't own its reflection, girls don't own their school and, as John's better half would be swift to affirm, he doesn't own her. Nevertheless, it's:
The mirror's reflection. (The reflection of/in the mirror);
The girls' school. (The school for girls);
and John's wife. (The wife of John).
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Post by Tone on Jan 6, 2012 20:44:10 GMT
>It's always nice to have some new blood in the forum (no implied reference to vampirism intended)<Oh Sue -- you spoilt it!  Tone
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Post by Pete on Jan 10, 2012 16:51:13 GMT
I was given only a week's notice to find a new apartment. Could this not be written: I was given only a week to find a new apartment. Hello, Vadim! Long time no post. Good to have you back. |
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Post by Pete on Jan 10, 2012 16:52:56 GMT
I was given only a week's notice to find a new apartment. Could this not be written: I was given only a week to find a new apartment. It could, but to me the original means something subtly different, I think. It gives the flavour of legality, i.e. the landlord had given a week's notice to quit under the terms of the lease. |
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Post by Pete on Jan 10, 2012 16:54:09 GMT
I think we should explain that "possession" in this respect doesn't necessarily mean ownership; it's more of a loose association. A mirror doesn't own its reflection, girls don't own their school and, as John's better half would be swift to affirm, he doesn't own her. Nevertheless, it's: The mirror's reflection. (The reflection of/in the mirror); The girls' school. (The school for girls); and John's wife. (The wife of John). Isn't it just the genitive case (although English has largely lost its cases, of course). Cue bad joke from Twoddle or Tone? ;D |
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Post by Twoddle on Jan 10, 2012 18:55:09 GMT
I think we should explain that "possession" in this respect doesn't necessarily mean ownership; it's more of a loose association. A mirror doesn't own its reflection, girls don't own their school and, as John's better half would be swift to affirm, he doesn't own her. Nevertheless, it's: The mirror's reflection. (The reflection of/in the mirror); The girls' school. (The school for girls); and John's wife. (The wife of John). Isn't it just the genitive case (although English has largely lost its cases, of course). Cue bad joke from Twoddle or Tone? ;D I contributed a lifetime's worth of bad jokes about the genitive case during my Latin lessons at school, Pete. Yes, it's the genitive case, if we still have one in English. |
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Post by Vadim on Jan 18, 2012 22:47:13 GMT
Would anyone care to explain the genitive case? Or cases as a whole?
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Post by Geoff on Jan 20, 2012 1:59:54 GMT
Would anyone care to explain the genitive case? Or cases as a whole? As this question could start discussion unrelated to the current topic heading, I have started a new thread " Case of words in English". |
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