Which is technically correct (even if not colloquial)? She is a friend of Jack's. OR She is a friend of Jack.
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Which is technically correct (even if not colloquial)? She is a friend of Jack's. OR She is a friend of Jack.
Only the second form is not ridiculous.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary Ella
The second is correct and "preferable" by every "rule" of grammar.
So, as Svartnik points out, the second is the one you are looking for.
But really, the first is common enough that it should not be condemned.
She is a friend of mine -- she is a friend of Jack's. I'm not sure it's ridiculous.
It does work best for names (words) of one syllable, and the longer the noun phrase after the "of", the rarer the appended "s".
Attachment 606
DOUBLE GENITIVE. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993
I steer clear of double genitives.
I agree, the overuse of the possessive apostrophe is one of my pet hates!Quote:
Originally Posted by svartnik
I think it's crucial to keep in mind always the intended formality level.
In writing, obviously, the apostrophe is poor unless in directly quoted speech.
As a native English speaker, I would never use a construction like 'a friend of Jack' nor have I ever heard a native English speaker use such a construction.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary Ella
a friend of Jack's :tick:
a friend of Jack :cross:
I am sure the first version is correct (a friend of Jack`s).
I don't know anyone called Jack, so I have never referred to his friends, but I would say, and always have said; 'He is a friend of my father', for example.Quote:
Originally Posted by Soup
The plain English is "she is Jack's friend". I think that's best form of all for a monosyllable.
