a/the friend of my father's who

[joham]

He was a/the friend of my father's who had introduced him to my mother, years ago, in London.

Are both a and the fine for this sentence? Which is better? Any difference?

Could I ask native speakers to help me please? Thank you in advance.

[engee30]

Not a native but...

Originally Posted by joham

He was a/the friend of my father's who had introduced him to my mother, years ago, in London.

Are both a and the fine for this sentence? Which is better? Any difference?

Could I ask native speakers to help me please? Thank you in advance.

I reckon it was just one friend of your father's that introduced him to your mother. So it's the friend of my father's who...

[2006]

Originally Posted by joham

He was a/the friend of my father's who had introduced him to my mother, years ago, in London.

Are both a and the fine for this sentence? Which is better? Any difference?

Could I ask native speakers to help me please? Thank you in advance.

'friend of my father' is correct, not "friend of my father's".
'friend of my father's (boss)(neighbor)(cousin)' would be correct.

[susiedqq]

I'd prefer:

He was a friend of my father . . .

(meaning: a certain friend, a particular friend)

[engee30]

Originally Posted by 2006

'friend of my father' is correct, not "friend of my father's".
'friend of my father's (boss)(neighbor)(cousin)' would be correct.

What seems to be incorrect to some doesn't seem to me, 2006. Believe it or not, the two are of equal correctness.

[David L.]

2006: 'friend of my father' is correct, not "friend of my father's

I don't agree. friend of my father's is correct Standard Brit. Eng.

Also, both 'a' and 'the' are possible.
"No, you're thinking of Paul, one of my cousins. That's John Smith. He was the friend of my father's who had introduced him to my mother, years ago, in London.

"He was a friend of my father's who had introduced him to my mother, years ago, in London. He died last year. This is the only photo of him we have."

[2006]

Originally Posted by David L.

I don't agree. friend of my father's is correct Standard Brit. Eng.

"

That's interesting and strange, even illogical.
"friend of my father's" makes me want to ask, 'friend of your father's what?

[engee30]

Originally Posted by 2006

That's interesting and strange, even illogical.
"friend of my father's" makes me want to ask, 'friend of your father's what?

I'd say that friend of my father is stranger than friend of my father's.

The structure, friend of my father's, where my father's is the possessive noun, is correct; so is the structure, friend of mine, where mine is the possessive pronoun.

Since the structure, friend of my father, where my father is the object of the preposition of, is alright, then friend of me, where me is the object of the preposition of, should be alright as well; but it isn't!

That's why I think it's, so to speak, more 'correct' to say friend of my father's. But of course the two versions are correct, friend of my father('s).

[2006]

nonsense

a friend of your father's what?

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by 2006

nonsense

a friend of your father's what?

I don't know whose post you're referring to, but you could at least engage with the argument.
A friend of your father's acquaintance?

So, do you say "a friend of mine"?
A friend of my what?