[Grammar] mine

[Will17]

-He is a friend of mine. He is a friend of a friend/ friend's? Which one is correct?

"He's a friend of a friend." You wouldn't use "friend's" because you have already said "of a", which shows possession. If you wish to use the apostrophe + s, then you would say "He's a friend's friend".


I find it hard to explain my point. We say "he is a friend of mine", "He is a friend of his (=John) so we can say "he is a friend of John's" Therefore, why can't we say "he is a friend of a friend's"?

Thanks a lot
W

 

[BobK]

-He is a friend of mine. He is a friend of a friend/ friend's? Which one is correct?

"He's a friend of a friend." You wouldn't use "friend's" because you have already said "of a", which shows possession. If you wish to use the apostrophe + s, then you would say "He's a friend's friend".


I find it hard to explain my point. We say "he is a friend of mine", "He is a friend of his (=John) so we can say "he is a friend of John's" Therefore, why can't we say "he is a friend of a friend's"?

Thanks a lot
W

You're quite right ;-) It's illogical, but that's the way it is; when the thing possessed is specific you use what is in effect a double possessive. When the thing possessed is preceded by an indefinite article, you use just 'of'. :up:

b