the door car

[atabitaraf]

What is the difference between:
1. The car door.
2. The door of the car.
Can we use either of them with the same meaning and application?
Thanks,

[NorwichEnglish]

Both can be used, but usually people would just say the car door, because it is shorter.
-Martin

[SoothingDave]

There is no difference in meaning.

In most cases, people will use "car door," as it is shorter.

If you need to emphasize that it was the door (and not some other part), then the longer form would be used.

[BrunaBC]

It just occurred to me, could the possessive ( 's ) be used too?
the car's door

Car door -> car is giving a carachteristic to the door, could I interprete it as an adjective in this case?

The door of the car = the car's door. Is it?

Thanks

[atabitaraf]

It just occurred to me, could the possessive ( 's ) be used too?
the car's door

Car door -> car is giving a carachteristic to the door, could I interprete it as an adjective in this case?

The door of the car = the car's door. Is it?

Thanks

Not a native
No, not as an adjective.
I have read 's can only be used for people, animals, time expressions, stars and planets, countries and cities, and companies.
But I think if your text is centrally about a car you can use 's for showing its property as a literal device (like people)

[SoothingDave]

It just occurred to me, could the possessive ( 's ) be used too?
the car's door

Car door -> car is giving a carachteristic to the door, could I interprete it as an adjective in this case?

The door of the car = the car's door. Is it?

Thanks

It could be "the car's door," but that's unlikely. We tend to just use the noun form as an adjective in common phrases.

[BrunaBC]

Not a native
No, not as an adjective.
I have read 's can only be used for people, animals, time expressions, stars and planets, countries and cities, and companies.
But I think if your text is centrally about car you can use 's for showing its property as a literal device (like people)

According to SoothingDave, car (noun) is working as an adjective here.

[atabitaraf]

According to SoothingDave, car (noun) is working as an adjective here.

In 'Physics class' physics could be considered like an adjective or you could say it for desk in 'desk lamp' but not for car in 'The car's door'.
What kind of class? Physics class
What kind of lamp? desk lamp

If It is not correct please help!

[SoothingDave]

In 'Physics class' physics could be considered like an adjective or you could say it for desk in 'desk lamp' but not for car here.
What kind of class? Physics class
What kind of lamp? desk lamp

If It is not correct please help!

Why not for car? What kind of door is it? A car door.

[TheParser]

could the possessive ( 's ) be used too?
the car's door

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


Hello, Bruna:

1. Atabitaraf's excellent answer sent me to my favorite place: the "books" section of Google. Just as Atabitaraf said,

native speakers have no trouble using "car's door" if you are emphasizing a particular car. Here are some quotations:


"When an officer catches up with the thief, he or she can remotely kill the stolen car's engine and lock the car's door." -- Criminal Investigation (2006) by Bennett, Hess, and Orthmann.

"The car's doors hissed open." -- Fear the Night (2005) by John Lutz.

"Achingly, he closed the car's door and locked it." -- Christmas in My Heart (1988) by Joe L. Wheeler.

"Part of me wanted to go kick in the car's door, but there was no time." -- Thorn Queen (2009) by Richelle Mead.