[Grammar] learner's and learners'; Oxford and Merriam-Webster's

[khanhhung2512]

Hi.
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (has 's after Merriam-Webster) and Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (doesn't have 's after Oxford), what are the differences between them?
Why it is 'Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary' , but 'Oxford Advanced Learners' Dictionary',
because I think that dictionary can be used by some learners (not just a learner).
Thanks very much!

 

[virus99]

Hi!

No teacher!

Learner is singular in "Learner's Dictionary".
Learner is plural (Learners) in "Learners' Dictionary".

Hope this was the right answer

 

[Raymott]

Hi.
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (has 's after Merriam-Webster) and Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (doesn't have 's after Oxford), what are the differences between them?
Why it is 'Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary' , but 'Oxford Advanced Learners' Dictionary',
because I think that dictionary can be used by some learners (not just a learner).
Thanks very much!

A Learner's Dictionary is suited to a learner. It's a good dictionary for a learner.
A Learners' Dictionary is suited to learners. It's a good dictionary for learners.
They're both correct; and they mean the same thing in this context.

 

[khanhhung2512]

Hi!

No teacher!

Learner is singular in "Learner's Dictionary".
Learner is plural (Learners) in "Learners' Dictionary".

Hope this was the right answer

Oh, I already knew that, my question is why "Learner's Dictionary" is being used in stead of "Learners' Dictionary".
Thanks anyway.

 

[5jj]

Oh, I already knew that, my question is why "Learner's Dictionary" is being used instead of "Learners' Dictionary".
Thanks anyway.

I have asked myself a similar question about why EFL course books usually have a Student's Book and a Teacher's Book. The s' form would appear to be more logical.

 

[TheParser]

Hi.
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (has 's after Merriam-Webster) and Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (doesn't have 's after Oxford), what are the differences between them?
Why it is 'Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary' , but 'Oxford Advanced Learners' Dictionary',
because I think that dictionary can be used by some learners (not just a learner).
Thanks very much!

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) I think that native speakers and learners forget one important fact:

Language was only oral (spoken) long before human beings learned to write.

(2) Thus when you hear the word "learners," your mind can put the comma

wherever you wish.

(3) There is really no "rule" that everybody follows all the time. For example, here in

the United States we have one day each year to honor our 44 presidents.

I have seen it spelled as:


(a) Presidents' Day.

(b) President's Day.

(c) Presidents Day.

Some people feel that (a) is the correct answer; some feel that (b) "looks" better; and

some like (c) because they dislike apostrophes.

(4) If you ever have a test on this matter, I would definitely recommend

"learners' dictionary." It is somewhat similar to "boys' bathroom." Surely,

no one would write "boy's bathroom."

 

[suprunp]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Surely,

no one would write "boy's bathroom."

NOT A TEACHER

There were ten {farmer's/farmers'} wives at the meeting.

Notice, [...], that the expression farmer's wives does not imply polygamy: if this is a descriptive genitive, it is simply the plural of farmer's wife. The change to the plural genitive farmers' wives may, however, be preferred.


In many cases the first noun ends with an s, which can be written in three ways:
a girl's school [genitive singular]
a girls' school [genitive plural]
a girls school [common case plural]

(A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language)

Judging by what professor Quirk says and if I didn't know, I might as well write "boy's bathroom".

 

[5jj]

Judging by what professor Quirk says and if I didn't know, I might as well write "boy's bathroom".

Most people wouldn't even notice.

 

[khanhhung2512]

And what about Oxford and Merriam-Webster's?
And I'm a little confused about the use of proper nouns.
E.g.: 'Korea National University of Arts' and 'Australian National University' (not Australia)
And what are the differences between 'Korea National University of Arts' and 'Korea's National University of Arts' and 'Korean National University of Arts'?
Thanks!

 

[khanhhung2512]

PS: If I have made any grammar mistakes, please let me know!

 

[5jj]

And what about Oxford and Merriam-Webster's?

There are no rules. Just do what the particular publisher does in the name of a book. In the following sentence I would use 's:

I found Oxford's Blackstone's Guide to the Proceeds of Crime Act very helpful.

I'm a little confused about the use of proper nouns. E.g.: 'Korea National University of Arts' and 'Australian National University' (not Australia)

Use the name they use for themselves. If you don't know, use the adjective form. It's always acceptable.

And what are the differences between 'Korea National University of Arts' and 'Korea's National University of Arts' and 'Korean National University of Arts'?

There is no real difference, except that the first appears to be the usual English version of its name: http://eng.karts.ac.kr:81/karts/main/html.jsp?c_no=003001001

 

[TheParser]

And what are the differences between 'Korea National University of Arts' and 'Korea's National University of Arts' and 'Korean National University of Arts'?
Thanks!

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) I think that I might (40 percent possibiliity) be able to answer one third of your

intriguing question.

(a) I believe that we are discussing names of organizations. Right?

(b) I believe that there is no organization named Korea's National University of

Arts.

(i) There could be an organization called The National University of Arts/ National

University of Arts.

(ii) Then the apostrophe would be used this way:

Martha: Few people know that I attended the National University of Arts.

Tom: Oh, really? Are you referring to the National University of Arts in Taiwan?

Martha: No, I attended Korea's National University of Arts.

Tom: Oh, I see. The one in Korea, not Taiwan's (National University of Arts).

(2) I cannot answer your most important point: why do some organizations

use the adjective (Korean) and some use the noun (Korea) in their titles?

(a) For example, I googled and found:

Korea Tourist Organization
Korea National Oil Corporation

but

Korean National Arboretum

(b) Is the choice arbitrary? That is, there is no difference. Some decide to use the

adjective; others decide to use the noun.

(3) I am sure that the answer is on the Web. But I am not intelligent enough to

know how to search for the answer.

(4) Hopefully, someone will give you and me the answer to your great

question.


UPDATE: I have just noticed that while I was typing, Teacher Fivejedjon gave us

an excellent answer.

 

[5jj]

(1) I think that I [STRIKE]might (40 percent possibiliity) be able to[/STRIKE] can answer one third of your intriguing question.

You can, and did.

(ii) Then the apostrophe would be used this way:

Martha: Few people know that I attended the National University of Arts.
Tom: Oh, really? Are you referring to the National University of Arts in Taiwan?
Martha: No, I attended Korea's National University of Arts.
Tom: Oh, I see. The one in Korea, not Taiwan's (National University of Arts).

I agree that this is a natural and normal use of the 's. However, this would also be possible:

Martha: Few people know that I attended the National University of Arts.
Tom: Oh, really? Are you referring to the National University of Arts in Taiwan?
Martha: No, I attended the Korean National University of Arts.
Tom: Oh, I see. The one in Korea, not (the one) in Taiwan.
or: .....Oh, I see, The Korean one, not the Taiwanese.