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

English Teacher
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,
Both can be used, but usually people would just say the car door, because it is shorter.
-Martin
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.
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 teacher.
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)
Last edited by atabitaraf; 11-Jun-2012 at 20:12. Reason: 'a car' instead of 'car'
Last edited by atabitaraf; 12-Jun-2012 at 08:00. Reason: replacing pronouns for clarifying
***** 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.
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