Anonymous  +  521802 Sun, 01 Jun 08 09:37 PM Hi. I used to think the first example was correct, but a friend has said the second is right She is a friend of Alison's She is a friend of Alison Similarly, what about... I'm going to Bob's I'm going to Bob Thanks! Anonymous

	Grammar Geek  +  521818 Sun, 01 Jun 08 10:39 PM This "double possessive" is quite common so I would use the first in the Alison example. For the second set, if you are going to the PERSON, use Bob. If you're going to his place (home, office, etc.), the use "Bob's." I can think of a few situations in which you might say "I'm going to Bob," but it doesn't sound particularly natural. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,652 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Possessives

	Philip  +  521830 Mon, 02 Jun 08 12:13 AM Grammar Geek “  I can think of a few situations in which you might say "I'm going to Bob," but it doesn't sound particularly natural. ” For example:   If you don't stop playing games on your computer when you should be working, I'm going to Bob (our boss).  [I might go directly to him personally, or I might phone or email him.] I do dislike the double possessive.  I usually change the construction to 'one of Alison's friends'.  Personal preference. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,733 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Grammar, Possessives, Constructions

	Cool Breeze  +  521957 Mon, 02 Jun 08 08:51 AM Anonymous “She is a friend of Alison's She is a friend of Alison ”   Both are generally considered correct. In Finnish grammar books of English the term "double genitive" is used. The first example is logical if you think of she is a friend of mine. Mine is possessive like Alison's.  However, it would be very inconvenient to insist on a possessive form in cases like she is a friend of Mr. Smith and Mrs. Stevenson's. Or perhaps even she is a friend of Mr. Smith's and Mrs. Stevenson's. CB  Cool Breeze Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006 Senior Member 3,970 "I hope you'll all live to be 150 years old - and the last voice you hear is mine!" Frank Sinatra on stage in Oslo, Norway, 28 September 1991 Grammar, Possessives, Genitives