Re: The use of the genitive with inanimate objects.

Crux_online — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 14:39:32 GMT

Riglos wrote:
1. How can we distinguish between a descriptive genitive and a compound noun?

The descriptive Genative will be an inflected Genative using the apostrophe, just like the possessive. This appears to be an argument of semantics; the foundation of which rests in whether you accept the premise that inanimate objects can possess attributes.

Riglos wrote:
2. How can we decide whether it is better to use the inflected genitive, as in "the mountain's top" or the periphrastic genitive, as in "the top of the moutain"?

This will depend on the audience. If you're speaking with the 'crusty purist' from the first paragraph, you may want to use periphrastic Genatives, otherwise it may just be a matter rhythm, meter, and alliteration. In my opinion, compound nouns are preferred over inflected Genatives of inanimate objects.

Also, use these:

1a. Loading into memory non-resident programs as required is one task of the supervisor program.(= periphrastic genitive?)

2b. Communicating directly with the hardware is the role of the operating system . (= periphrastic genitive?)

Riglos wrote:
3a. Supporting multiple programs and users is part of the mainframe operating sytems work. (= compound noun?) I think this construction is not possible for the other versions are quite clearer. Anyway, is it wrong?

Not wrong, but terribly cumbersome.

3b. Supporting multiple programs and users is part of the work of mainframe operating sytems. (= periphrastic genitive?)

Riglos wrote:
4a. Allowing the computer to process data faster is the main reason for more memory installing. (= compound noun?) I think this one is utterly wrong, for the gerund, here "installing" should come first and, afterwards, its objects or complements. Is this explanation sound? Otherwise, the elements in the sentence are reversed, but is it acceptable anyway?

Memory installing isn't really a compound noun, rather a verbal backformation converted to a gerund. These are very bad constructions and should be avoided.

Consider the following:
underage drinking (n.) > underage drink (v.) ?!?
people watching (n.) > people watch (v.) ?!?

4b. Allowing the computer to process data faster is the main reason for installing more memory.

5a. Processing quickly large amounts of data is one of the most important functions of a computer.

I would use 'Processing large amounts of data quickly is one of...' because quickly describes not just how it processes, but how it process large amounts of data.

Mind you, these are just my opinions, but I hope they helped a little.

Re: Another question about genitive

khoff — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:17:47 GMT

As a native speaker, I would not be troubled by "the server's name" and similar phrases. In fact, I had never heard of the rule that the Saxon genitive (the 's form) was only to be used with animate subjects until I started reading this board; nor had I ever heard it called the "Saxon genitive." However, I think Pieanne's suggested version ("the site interface" etc.) would be somewhat more common. It might not work in every case -- I don't know what "the value of the metric" means in this context, but "the metric value" would suggest to me that something was being measured in the metric system rather than feet and inches.

If you want to post a sample paragraph using a variety of these options, we can tell you how it sounds.

Search results for 'tag:Paragraphs tag:Genitives' matching tags 'Paragraphs' and 'Genitives'

Re: The use of the genitive with inanimate objects.

Re: Another question about genitive