Difference between "my book" and "the book of mine"

Status
Not open for further replies.

Windkarma

New member
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
When I refer to my book, are there any situations that I can say, "the book of mine"?
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Yes, but I can't think of any place where you would have to say that, or even should say that.
You're more likely to hear it when there is some negative emotion towards the object, as in "That dog of mine has dug up the garden again!"
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
With "the", I can't make an argument for it colloquially. You might hear something like "Do you remember that book of mine - you know, the one with the purple, sparkly cover - the one that I've read six times? Well, I've lost it! I'm really sad."
 

Windkarma

New member
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
Thank you for your replies.

When a student asked me, "Can I replace 'my book' with 'the book of mine'?", I did not think of any situations to use "the" in, either. Since we are non-native speakers of English and our language does not have the concept of "article" , we are always confused about articles.

I really appreciate all your kind explanation.
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan

juanpide

Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Great Britain
But in many books you can find...
John's picture (his property)
A picture of John (he appears)
And even
A picture of John's (???)
 

Windkarma

New member
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
I said to the student who asked me, "Generally, they, native speakers, don't use 'the book of mine'."

I appreciate your replying, emsr2d2, Raymott, Tdol, juanpide.
 

airry87

Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2014
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
England
When I refer to my book, are there any situations that I can say, "the book of mine"?

Mine: is a possessive pronoun.
Example :That is mine.


My: is a possessive adjective.
Example : That is my car.




This is my iPod” --- - This iPod is mine
This is my pen ------ This pen is mine
This is my car ------ This car is mine


Those are my paintings ------ those paintings are mine
Those are my Books -------- Those Books are mine
[LINK REMOVED]
Ariana Watson
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top