His own part of the river

[Rachel Adams]

Which sounds natural?
"My friend owns/has part of the river" or "My friend has his own part of the river"?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Do people own parts of rivers where you live? Here rivers are public property.

I'd say, "My friend owns part of the river."

 

[GoesStation]

I think property lines extend into rivers in Ohio. It would be odd, though, to say you owned part of one. You might say, something like "The Little Miami River runs through my friend's property."

Family friends used to own the property across the highway from the back of our place. Jacoby Branch (a regional term for a creek) ran through the back of their property.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I think property lines extend into rivers in Ohio. It would be odd, though, to say you owned part of one. You might say, something like "The Little Miami River runs through my friend's property."

Family friends used to own the property across the highway from the back of our place. Jacoby Branch (a regional term for a creek) ran through the back of their property.

Aha! So that's what branch water is! Glad we had this little talk.

 

[GoesStation]

Aha! So that's what branch water is! Glad we had this little talk.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Do people own parts of rivers where you live? Here rivers are public property.

I'd say, "My friend owns part of the river."

Why is it wrong to use "a" before "part"? It's always "part of something" but never "a part of something."