He's a brother of Maria's/Maria

[Winwin2011]

1. He's a brother of Maria's.
2. He's a brother of Maria.

Are the above sentences both correct?

Thanks.

 

[a_vee]

Good question!

The answer is yes. I had to look it up in my giant grammar manual.

(Are the above sentences both correct?)

 

[Winwin2011]

Good question!

The answer is yes. I had to look it up in my giant grammar manual.

(Are the above sentences both correct?)

Thanks, a_vee.

I read the following from Cambridge English Grammar Today:

We can also use the noun phrase + of pattern before a noun phrase with possessive's:

1. A friend of my sister's has opened a cafe on Dawson street.
2. She was a daughter of the president's.

That's why I asked the above questions.

 

[LearnandKnow]

so which is correct

He is brother of Maria's...

betterly:-
he is maria's brother

 

[MikeNewYork]

You will get differing opinions on these. Technically, there is no reason to use the possessive in these constructions. It creates a double genitive because the "of" performs the same function. Nevertheless, my experience is that double genitive is far more common and has been accepted by most for many years. One situation in which it unavoidable is "He is a friend of ours" -- a friend of us, just doesn't do it.

The bottom line is that both are acceptable.