Genitive

Hi

I'm writing a sentence containing: my sister's fiance's parents... How would you write that?

Welcome to the forum, Jette.

The way you have written it is fine, though I'd probably write 'The parents of my sister's fiancé'.

I don't actually think we have a word in English to describe somebody's sister's fiancé's parents, so the sentence would have to contain the whole phrase. For example: "My sister's fiancé's parents are coming over for dinner this evening."

Your sister could refer to them as "my future parents-in-law."

Thanks
My own thought was that "The parents of my sister's fiancé" sounded the best.

JetteLF said:

Thanks
My own thought was that "The parents of my sister's fiancé" sounded the best.

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I agree.

I disagree. "My sister's fiancé's parents" is just fine.

Yep, as is My parents' parents' names..., which you'd normally say as My grandparents' names... . I think it's all about the style that one favours over the other. A couple of genitives used subsequently may be awkward to some.

I agree that it's all style and preference. I prefer "My sister's fiancé's parents".

emsr2d2 said:

I agree that it's all style and preference. I prefer "My sister's fiancé's parents".

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There is nothing wrong with that. It can get awkward after 2, however. I found my sister's fiancé's parent's dog's bone.

Well, using the-of construction can lead to the same point of awkwardness, though I found the bone of the dog of the parents of my sister's fiance.

engee30 said:

Well, using the-of construction can lead to the same point of awkwardness, though I found the bone of the dog of the parents of my sister's fiance.

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Variety is the spice of life. I found a bone belonging to the dog of my sister's fiancé's parents.

I want to know how you all know which dog the bone belongs to!

emsr2d2 said:

I want to know how you all know which dog the bone belongs to!

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You could see it in the dog's eyes. :-D

MikeNewYork said:

Variety is the spice of life. I found a bone belonging to the dog of my sister's fiancé's parents.

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I can't explain why, but reading a bone in this sentence made me think of a dog that is gone. :-?

emsr2d2 said:

I want to know how you all know which dog the bone belongs to!

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I guess we don't. :lol:

engee30 said:

I can't explain why, but reading a bone in this sentence made me think of a dog that is gone. :-?


I guess we don't. :lol:

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The dog (in my sentence) is fine!

Sounds like it. Ever since I made a comment about it, it's been 'woofing' at me. ;-)

engee30 said:

Sounds like it. Ever since I made a comment about it, it's been 'woofing' at me. ;-)

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Bow wow!

MikeNewYork said:

You could see it in the dog's eyes. :-D

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I wasn't aware you'd found the dog yet. ;-)