Usage of 's on genitive case!

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Anonymous

#139955 Wed, 21 Sep 05 02:09 AM

How do I use it correctly when there are two subjects?

Example:

Joe and Mary's marriage.
OR
Joe's and Mary's marriage.
(if they are married to each other)

Joe and Mary's backpacks.
OR
Joe's and Mary's backpacks.
(each has his/her own backpack).

Thanks. Smile [:)]

Anonymous

Marriage, Genitives

Vorpar

#139979 Wed, 21 Sep 05 03:28 AM

I would use "Joe and Mary's backpacks."

Vorpar

Joined on Tue, Sep 20 2005

Santa Barbara, CA

Regular Member (813)

Genitives

Anonymous

#139996 Wed, 21 Sep 05 04:17 AM

John and Mary’s marriage took place yesterday. John is now a slave to Mary.
Mary’s and Betty’s marriages took place yesterday. Now each of them has their own slave.

John and Mary’s rooms were 202 and 203. They both used 202 and 203 together.
John’s and Mary’s rooms were 202 and 203. John used 202 and Mary used 203.

Anonymous

Marriage, Genitives

rishonly

#140000 Wed, 21 Sep 05 05:00 AM

Nice and funny response.Now, I clearly understand when one becomes slave.:-).

rishonly

Joined on Sat, Mar 5 2005

KUMBAKONAM,INDIA

Contributing Member (1,781)

Regards, Krish

Genitives

Anonymous

#140283 Wed, 21 Sep 05 05:17 PM

lol, thankyou, excellent examples; I don't think I'm forgetting that any soon. Wink [;)]

Anonymous

Genitives

Anonymous

#282350 Tue, 17 Oct 06 08:04 PM

Anonymous wrote:
How do I use it correctly when there are two subjects?

Example:

Joe and Mary's marriage.
OR
Joe's and Mary's marriage.
(if they are married to each other)

Joe and Mary's backpacks.
OR
Joe's and Mary's backpacks.
(each has his/her own backpack).

Thanks.

This is explained nicely in the following:

http://www.meredith.edu/grammar/plural.htm#Compound%20nouns

Anonymous

Grammar, Plurals, Nouns, Marriage, Genitives