[Grammar] grammar

[Sunnyx]

Hi everyone!

"Nick's and Jack's parents" vs. "Nick and Jack's parents"

Could someone explain me?

Thanks!

 

[BobK]

:hi:

In the first case, each is possessor; there are two lots of parents involved, and Nick and Jack need not be related. They may be school-mates, or friends, or cousins, but not brothers. Two apostrophes => two lots of parents.

In the second case, the possessor is a pair of brothers. One apostrophe => one lot of parents.

(It wasn't clear what you wanted explained, but I hope that does it ;-). Whatever you wanted explained, it wasn't yourself: for a general explanation, you could ask 'Could someone explain?' or ' Could someone explain the difference TO me?')

b

 

[Raymott]

"Nick and Jack's parents" need not mean either one set or two sets of parents. It could mean Jack's parents and Nick (3 people).

 

[emsr2d2]

Nick and Jack could be a woman and man or two women. They are not necessarily men's (abbreviated) names.

 

[BobK]

"Nick and Jack's parents" need not mean either one set or two sets of parents. It could mean Jack's parents and Nick (3 people).

In that case I'd use a comma after Jack: 'Jack, and Nick's parents'. But I know my use of commas sometimes raises eyebrows. ;-) Anyway, intonation and/or context would make it clear.

b

 

[emsr2d2]

In that case I'd use a comma after Jack: 'Jack, and Nick's parents'. But I know my use of commas sometimes raises eyebrows. ;-) Anyway, intonation and/or context would make it clear.

b

I agree that your comma would make it a lot clearer. I would use the comma or I would reverse the order of the people and say "Nick's parents and Jack".