Thread: Janet in headscarf

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

But to go back to the inefficieny of my apostrophe, is it true that only living beings that can use it? Are these examples wrong?

I was blinded by the Moon's bright light
The car's wheels fell off
The calculator's keyboard is pretty fancy
A country's national product

Well? I am of the opinion than you can use 's on objects, not only living things. Why aren't you all arguing with me??

Sorry, I didn't see that one. I agree with you, it's perfectly OK to use apostrophes on inanimate objects.
-Fantom

[quote=kalinka_vinnie]

Originally Posted by "kalinka_vinnie":2l2zsktb

But to go back to the inefficieny of my apostrophe, is it true that only living beings that can use it? Are these examples wrong?

I was blinded by the Moon's bright light
The car's wheels fell off
The calculator's keyboard is pretty fancy
A country's national product

Well? I am of the opinion than you can use 's on objects, not only living things. Why aren't you all arguing with me?? [/quote:2l2zsktb]

I know that apostrophical genetive can be made up with the words like nation, country, town, city, world, society and some others. Also it can be used with proper names. And also with words of time and distance (like in "a mile's walk" or "a minute's drwose"). And, I'm not sure, with celestial bodies, right? And the last one, the thing called independent genetive also employs 's with objects. The other stuff feels cosy with 'of', and can be 's-formed only in the high-flown style.

Literary term of the day: Personification!

Wahoo!