[Grammar] someone's name

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LQZ

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Sep 22, 2009
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Chinese
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China
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China
Dear teacher,

I ran into the following sentences at another forum.

1 There is no Mike's bike in my house.
2 Mike's bike is not in my house.

One native speaker said that sentence 1 is grammatcially incorrect, because someone's name can't be used as an adjective like that. But I am confused about why when someone's name is used as an adjective in the sentence 2, it is correct. Looking forward to your help, and thanks in advance.


LQZ
 

Kondorosi

Senior Member
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Nov 15, 2009
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Student or Learner
1 There is no Mike's bike in my house.

When I hear 'there is no,' I expect an indefinite noun to follow. In Mike's bike, Mike's defines, determines (determiner) the reference of the noun it modifies.
 

LQZ

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Thank you. You are right, and I've found the grammar rule.
 
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