Iris
Are the both forms correct? "My Grammar Lab" by Pearson says that "Jane's brother's motorbike" is correct, but in some other books I read that in that case we usually say "the motorbike of Jane's brother".
Feb 18, 2015 6:23 PM
Answers · 6
1
Technically, both forms are correct. But, as you already figured out, multiple possessive apostrophes in a row is awkward. I could see myself using the phrase verbally and informally, but I wouldn't use it in written English. I'd probably use "The motorbike that belongs to Jane's brother is..." This kind of thing can even be confusing to native speakers.
February 18, 2015
Thank you to all of you.
February 18, 2015
The Pearson book is correct. I can't think of any context in which I would say "the motorbike of Jane's brother"
February 18, 2015
Both are correct, but the first one is more common, in my experience.
February 18, 2015
Both are correct, but the second sounds awkward and unnatural. We would generally avoid this construction.
February 18, 2015
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