[etni] Non-personal genitors

Patricia,

A quick glance at the "Index to Modern English" shows
that non-personal genitors indeed take appostrophes.
Here are some examples from the book:

the ocean's roar
yesterday's news
a stone's throw
a dollar's worth

Jimmy Backer

 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patricia Reifen" <patriciareifen@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [etni] Fw: re: Animal rights


 Perhaps it's because the apostrophe can only be used
with 
something belonging to a person.   eg:  " men's
rights".    
However, animals are not people so it is incorrect to
say 
"animals' rights". It would have to become "the rights
of animals",  
-   just as one may say "the man's hat' but not 'the
roof's colour"!
 
 Enjoy life,
Patricia

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
--------------------------------------------
Visit the ETNI site - http://www.etni.org
Send a message to the ETNI list: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Send queries and questions to: ask@xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------------

Other related posts: