alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

BYNTA X-POSSESSIV~. 18~
the sign of the possessive must be aunexed to each; as, I, He took refuge
at the governor's, the king's representatl \'e," that is, "at the governor's
house."
853. The s after the apostrophe is sornrtimes omitted, when the first
word ends; and the following word begino, with an ", or when the me of
it would occasion a disagreeable repetition of s sound.; a~, " For righteonsness'
sake "_u For conscience' ~ake "-" For Je~us' sake "-" At Je.
sus' feet" (173). In other cases, such on,issil>ns would generally be improper;
a'", II James' book "_" Miss' shoes," instead of, "J.lInes's book"­
.1 Mis,'s shoes."
854. A clause of a sentence should uevcr come betwepn the posse,siyc
case aud the word wh:ch it limits; thus, "She bpglln to extol the brmer's
as she called him, excellent understanding," should be, .1 the excelleut
understanding of the fanner, as she called him."
855. A noun limited by the possessive plural, or by two or more nouns
Feverally in the possessive singular, should not be plll"al unless the SCIl.;P
require it. Thus," The men's health [nut healthsJ sdfere.J f"om the climate
"-" John's and William's wife [not wives] are of the same age."
856. The possessive whosesoever is sometimes divided by interposing the
word which it limits; as, "u·hose house .'Ofl'tr." This, in ge,2eral, howeveJ',
is to 1e avoided, and to be admitted only when euphony ad'!'! precision nre
thereby promoted (277).
EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.
In the following sentences, show which is the limiting substHntive, anu
which is the oue limited-where wrong, correct according to the rule or
observations.
(83!l) Virtues reward.-One mans loss is often another malls
gain.-Mans chief' end is to glori(y God.-My ancestors yirtuc
is "not mine,-A mothers tenderness and a fathers care are natures
gifts for mans advantage.-On eagles wings.-For Christ
sake.-For ten sake_-Which dictionary do you pl'efer.-'\Vebster,
Walker, or Johnson? -( 172) Asa his heart was perfeet.
-John Thorn pson his book_-Lucy Jones her book.
(841) lie waH averse to the nation imolving itself in wal'_­
?II uch depends on your pu pil com posing frequently.-He being
rich did not make him happy.-l am opposed to him going 011
such an expedition.
(842) That book is James book, and that one is Roberts.­
That knife is your knife, but I thought it was my knife.-My
book is old, but your book and Roberts book are new.-Which
is the best book, your book or my book?
(845) That landscape is a picture of my father. The work
you speak of is one of Irving.-Gravitation was a discovery of
Sir Ieaac Newton.-That is a ring of my mother.