The double possessive in English distinguishes between subjective and objective genitives. E.g.,
[1] I disagree with that opinion of Doug's
doesn't mean the same as
[2] I disagree with that opinion of Doug.
If you try to make it clear that [1] is subjective by recasting it as
[3] I disagree with Doug's opinion,
you at least lose some specificity.
--C. G. Estabrook
On Thu, 11 Feb 1999, Greg Nowell wrote:
> Perhaps I've got too many romance languages, but I've
> always thought the English double possessive to be
> silly. Lately it seems I can't read anything without
> seeing it.
>
> I went to visit a friend of Brian's.
>
> Je suis alle rendre visite a un ami de Brian.
>
> Note that the French has a simple genitive. Why can't
> we just say I went to see a friend of Brian? In fact,
> that's what I usually write. But maybe it's a
> gallicism. God knows I had a pissing match a few years
> ago with the editor of my book.
>
> --
> Gregory P. Nowell
> Associate Professor
> Department of Political Science, Milne 100
> State University of New York
> 135 Western Ave.
> Albany, New York 12222
>
> Fax 518-442-5298
>
>
>