The Japan is a friend of Russia's.

[tufguy]

The Japan is an ally of Russia. Can we also say "The Japan is a friend of Russia's?" I mean we say it when we talk about human beings but, if we are talking about countries then what we need to say?

Please check.

 

[tufguy]

Have you ever seen anything in your life that makes you think we need 'the' before 'Japan'?

No, I didn't want to make any mistake.

 

[Tdol]

I wouldn't use it, but you could say Japan is a friend to Russia.

 

[tufguy]

I wouldn't use it, but you could say Japan is a friend to Russia.

Okay, so it is wrong to use "'s" for countries.

 

[GoesStation]

Okay, so it is wrong to use "'s" for countries.

Not in most cases. It just sounds a little odd in your sentence.

You can say, for example, ​The radish is one of India's native vegetables.

 

[GoesStation]

Okay, so it is wrong to use "'s" for countries.

Congratulations for your correct use of punctuation. That's a tricky one.

 

[probus]

The Japan is an ally of Russia. Can we also say "The Japan is a friend of Russia's?" I mean we say it when we talk about human beings but, if we are talking about countries then what we need to say?

Please check.

The only thing wrong with your quoted phase is the definite article "the". Apart from that it is a perfect example of an English idiom, the ungrammatical but absolutely correct and very common use of the possessive, for example , a friend of hers, or a disability of mine.

 

[Tdol]

Okay, so it is wrong to use "'s" for countries.

No, but it sounds a bit like they're going to the pub for a drink together. There could be contexts where it would work fine. Also, note that I have used a different preposition in mine.

 

[tufguy]

No, but it sounds a bit like they're going to the pub for a drink together. There could be contexts where it would work fine. Also, note that I have used a different preposition in mine.

Preposition in mine?

 

[tufguy]

No, but it sounds a bit like they're going to the pub for a drink together. There could be contexts where it would work fine. Also, note that I have used a different preposition in mine.

Okay, got it "To".

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER



Hello, Tufguy:

I went to the "books" section of Google and found some quotations from presumably (= probably) educated people.

Here is a quotation from Henry Kissinger, the famous secretary of state (foreign minister) of the United States in the 1970s (emphases are mine):

"We can't let a friend of ours and China's get [mistreated] in a conflict with a friend of Russia's."

*****

As the Editor reminded us, the possessive form seems to express a closer relationship.

"I am a fan of Madonna." = I like her music.
"I am a fan of Madonna's = It is possible that we may even know each other.

 

[tufguy]

NOT A TEACHER



Hello, Tufguy:

I went to the "books" section of Google and found some quotations from presumably (= probably) educated people.

Here is a quotation from Henry Kissinger, the famous secretary of state (foreign minister) of the United States in the 1970s (emphases are mine):

"We can't let a friend of ours and China's get [mistreated] in a conflict with a friend of Russia's."

*****

As the Editor reminded us, the possessive form seems to express a closer relationship.

"I am a fan of Madonna." = I like her music.
"I am a fan of Madonna's = It is possible that we may even know each other.

Is it possible? I was told that it should be "I am a fan of Madonna."

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER

Hello, Tufguy:

1. Yes, it should be "I am a fan of Madonna" in formal writing, and it should probably be "I am a fan of Madonna" in 99% of cases in informal speech and writing, too.

2. When you get some extra time, google "a fan of" -- with the quotation marks.

3. I have just done that, and you will see that the possessive is, however, very idiomatic (the way native speakers use their language).

a. Here is something from a grammar helpline called englishforums.com.: "I am a fan of Sting's."

b. According to one comment, such a sentence "implies (or nearly so) that Sting personally knows you."

4. Now is here a person's comment in a discussion forum called topix.com.: "I am a fan of Beyoncé's but I haven't been impressed by her lately."

a. Of course, I do not know the background of that poster, but I am making an educated (?) guess that the poster and Beyoncé are not personally acquainted. So probably the poster should have avoided the possessive.

5. It seems that using the possessive with a noun is very idiomatic, but probably we should avoid it -- unless we have a close relationship with that person: "My wife's father is Tom Smith. I'm an admirer of Tom's, for he is such a wise person."

6. On the other hand, we have NO choice when it comes to pronouns: "I'm an admirer of his."