Plural Possessives

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ducat1base

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I'm a native English speaker, but having trouble with this one:

Which sentence is correct assuming both Rob and Dan have separate stories?

A) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's stories'

B) 'I related to Rob and Dan's stories'

C) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's story'

D) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's story'
 
I'm a native English speaker, but having trouble with this one:

Which sentence is correct assuming both Rob and Dan have separate stories?

A) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's stories'

B) 'I related to Rob and Dan's stories'

C) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's story'

D) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's story'

From this page:
Plural and Possessive

I would infer that choice "A" is correct.
Each person has a story, but since you related to both of them, then you would use the plural of story.
And, since each person had a separate story, then the possessive indication belongs on both names.




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Not a teacher, 53-year-old American.
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… and that’s my opinion
 
Last edited:
I am not a teacher.

A.

English isn't designed well for this sort of thing. Every way you try sounds somehow wrong, doesn't it?

The deed said it was her and my house. Yuck. There is a way out: The deed said it was our house, her and me. Also: I related to their stories, Rob and Dan.
 
The deed said it was her and my house. Yuck. There is a way out: The deed said it was our house, her and me. Also: I related to their stories, Rob and Dan.
They don't work for me. I prefer, for the first:

The deeds (BrE) said it was our house, hers and mine.

I think these are acceptable:

I related to Bob's and Dan's stories. (Bob and Dan each had a different story or different stories).

I related to Bob and Dan's story. (There was one story concerning, or told by, Bob and Dan
 
I related to Bob's and Dan's stories. (Bob and Dan each had a different story or different stories).

I related to Bob and Dan's story. (There was one story concerning, or told by, Bob and Dan
:up: To throw some weight behind 5jj's assertion :-o;-), this is how I learnt this stuff too. :)
 
To throw some weight behind 5jj's assertion, this is how I learnt this stuff too.
A sense of decorum keeps me silent.
 
I'm a native English speaker, but having trouble with this one:

Which sentence is correct assuming both Rob and Dan have separate stories?
A) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's stories'
B) 'I related to Rob and Dan's stories'
C) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's story'
D) 'I related to Rob's and Dan's story'

You could also say the following:
I related to Rob's story and Dan's story.
I related to Rob's story and Dan's stories.
I related to Rob's stories and Dan's story.
I related to Rob's stories and Dan's stories.


depending on the number of stories you relate to.
 
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