'Whose' and idiomatic possessive forms...

There are, of course, many lessons about 'Whose and Possession'...

My aim isn't to write one more lesson which would repeat what has already

been explained, but to add what you seem to lack and is very idiomatic. Of course,

a Learner will sometimes find it difficult and unnatural to use these expressions:

we'll review how to use 'WHOSE' [indicating possession] and then, we'll see two

forms which are seldom taught, and often misused...

I) ... WHOSE...:

A) WHOSE (relative pronoun) expresses a possession or a family relationship. 

Usually, it is used when its antecedent is a noun representing a person (or

an animal).

Now, it tends to be used for objects too.  

WHOSE is followed by the possession (WITH NO DETERMINER.) 

- The man, whose car is parked in my drive, is a neighbour.

- The woman, whose daughter is my best friend, laughs all the time...

B) WHOSE... ? ( adjective/ interrogative pronoun ), is also followed by the

possession or the family relationship followed by NO DETERMINER;

a) WHOSE ..?: interrogative adjective+ noun  (direct or indirect interrogative)

- Whose umbrella is this? 

- I wonder whose umbrella this is...

b) WHOSE:  interrogative pronoun (followed by TO BE)

- Whose is this umbrella? 

- Whose are these jeans? 

II) IDIOMS: 

1) Addition of OWN: 

It reinforces the idea of possession. It accompanies a possessive adjective

or a noun in the possessive case. 

- Please, don't use my car, you have your own [= yours] now. 

- She makes her daughters' own dresses. 

2) DOUBLE POSSESSIVE or DOUBLE GENITIVE:

a) As the second term of the possessive case (or genitive) cannot be

accompanied by a determiner (the), it may be necessary to use an

idiomatic construction (built with 'of' and with the possessive case or

genitive).

- Kev is a friend of my brother's must be opposed to: 

 My brother's friend

In the first sentence, it's clear that my brother has several friends.

b)  A possessive pronoun is added.          

- Kev is a friend of his, but not a friend of mine.

c) 'NO' may be used as an emphatic negative article. 

- This is no business of yours: (this is none of your business):

There we are! You can see that it isn't difficult. You just need a little

attention and... 

THE FORCE will be with You!  

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1. Brandy, whose the bicyclewhose bicyclethe whose bicycleI don't know has a flat tyre, is expecting her friend to arrive and help her repair it.



2. ' Whose carThe whose carWhose the carI don't know are you admiring?' 'I think it's Pete's, and I wish I could afford one like this one!'



3. 'Kids! I need your attention! whose is this coatthis whose coat isis this whose coatI don't know, the red one, I mean?'



4. In the holiday house, every kid has own roomstheir own roomsthem own roomsI don't know and shares two bathrooms.



5. 'Why do you want to borrow my bike? You have whose ownyours ownyour ownI don't know don't you?'



6. A Jim friend'sA Jim's friendA friend of Jim'sI don't know called to ask if you wanted to play tennis with him tomorrow.



7. 'Yes, Sylvia is Ours cousinsa cousin of oursa cousin of usI don't know. We have many relatives living in the area.'



8. This is a painting of my fathermy father's a paintinga painting of my father'sI don't know. It is part of his collection of five landscapes of the same size.



9. Judging from his gait, you could tell the man was a servant's Kinga servant's the Kinga servant of the King'sI don't know and was used to speaking to important people.



10. Mum has decided to invite a dozen Kate's friendsfriends of Kate'sof friends Kate'sI don't know to celebrate her birthday next week.