WISE WEDNESDAY GRAMMAR: SYNTAX (NOUNS)

Part 3.

SYNTAX.

NOUNS.

394. Nouns have no distinct forms for the nominative and objective cases: hence no mistake can be made in using them. But some remarks are required concerning the use of the possessive case.

Use of the possessive. Joint possession.

395. When two or more possessives modify the same noun, or indicate joint ownership or possession, the possessive sign is added to the last noun only; for example,-

Live your king and country's best support. -Rowe.

Woman, sense and nature's easy fool. -Byron.

Oliver and Boyd's printing office. -Mcculloch.

Adam and Eve's morning hymn. -Milton.

In Beaumont and Fletcher's"Sea Voyage," Juletta tells, etc. -Emerson.

Separate possession.

396. When two or more possessives stand before the same noun, but imply separate possession or ownership, the possessive sign is used with each noun; as,-

He lands us on a grassy stage, Safe from the storm's and prelate's rage. -Marvell

Where were the sons of Peers and Members of Parliament in Anne's and George's time? -Thackeray.

Levi's station in life was the receipt of custom; and Peter's, the shore of Galilee; and Paul's, the antechamber of the High Priest. -Ruskin.

Swift did not keep Stella's letters. He kept Bolingbroke's, and Pope's, and Harley's, and Peterborough's. -Thackeray.

An actor in one of Morton's or Kotzebue's plays. -Macaulay.

Putting Mr. Mill's and Mr. Bentham's principles together. - Id.

397. The possessive preceding the gerund will be considered under the possessive of pronouns (Sec. 408).

Reference

An English Grammar 1896 by W. M. Baskervill & J. W. Sewell

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