First of these's?
Say a list of things has already been mentioned.
How do I refer to an attribute of the first thing in said list?
- "The first-of-these's attribute"
- "The first's attribute"
edit: thanks for the unexplained downvotes, really helpful(!)
possessives
asked yesterday
jezmckjezmck
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Say a list of things has already been mentioned.
How do I refer to an attribute of the first thing in said list?
- "The first-of-these's attribute"
- "The first's attribute"
edit: thanks for the unexplained downvotes, really helpful(!)
possessives
asked yesterday
jezmckjezmck
1095
New contributor
jezmck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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3
Is there some reason you've discarded the first attribute or the first one’s attribute?
– tchrist♦
yesterday
Just use the name of the first list item again rather than jump through hoops to avoid it. Or use its position: item number one’s attribute.
– Jim
3 hours ago
There is no such word as "these's".
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Say a list of things has already been mentioned.
How do I refer to an attribute of the first thing in said list?
- "The first-of-these's attribute"
- "The first's attribute"
edit: thanks for the unexplained downvotes, really helpful(!)
possessives
asked yesterday
jezmckjezmck
1095
New contributor
jezmck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Say a list of things has already been mentioned.
How do I refer to an attribute of the first thing in said list?
- "The first-of-these's attribute"
- "The first's attribute"
edit: thanks for the unexplained downvotes, really helpful(!)
possessives
possessives
asked yesterday
jezmckjezmck
1095
New contributor
jezmck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
jezmckjezmck
1095
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edited 4 hours ago
jezmck
asked yesterday
jezmckjezmck
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asked yesterday
jezmckjezmck
1095
asked yesterday
jezmckjezmck
1095
1095
New contributor
jezmck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
jezmck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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3
Is there some reason you've discarded the first attribute or the first one’s attribute?
– tchrist♦
yesterday
Just use the name of the first list item again rather than jump through hoops to avoid it. Or use its position: item number one’s attribute.
– Jim
3 hours ago
There is no such word as "these's".
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3
Is there some reason you've discarded the first attribute or the first one’s attribute?
– tchrist♦
yesterday
Just use the name of the first list item again rather than jump through hoops to avoid it. Or use its position: item number one’s attribute.
– Jim
3 hours ago
There is no such word as "these's".
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
3
3
Is there some reason you've discarded the first attribute or the first one’s attribute?
– tchrist♦
yesterday
Is there some reason you've discarded the first attribute or the first one’s attribute?
– tchrist♦
yesterday
Just use the name of the first list item again rather than jump through hoops to avoid it. Or use its position: item number one’s attribute.
– Jim
3 hours ago
Just use the name of the first list item again rather than jump through hoops to avoid it. Or use its position: item number one’s attribute.
– Jim
3 hours ago
There is no such word as "these's".
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
There is no such word as "these's".
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
You are describing an attribute of the listed item. It's position in the list is secondary to the attribute.
"The/An attribute of the first of those listed."
or
"The [attribute name] of the first of these."
If they are distinct things in the list then the attribute's position will be clear.
"Of the bird, the mule and the horse the color of the wings is the most important."
answered yesterday
ElliotElliot
111
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This seems to be a pertinent question as I haven't seen this discussed in any grammar or on this site.
When the noun phrase ends with a noun we are quite happy to put an 's on the end. This is often described in grammars as the "King of Spain's daughter" or some similar phrase and is discussed on SE here. However, since the 's can only be added to a noun, we struggle when the phrase ends in a word that cannot be a noun:
the first of these's
the last there was's
I said "cannot be a noun" not "is not a noun" because it is is OK to use a word that can be a noun, even if it is not a noun in the context
Henry the Eighth's
You just have to find another way to say it
the first's attribute
of these, the first's attribute
the attribute of the first of these
answered 20 mins ago
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,567216
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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You are describing an attribute of the listed item. It's position in the list is secondary to the attribute.
"The/An attribute of the first of those listed."
or
"The [attribute name] of the first of these."
If they are distinct things in the list then the attribute's position will be clear.
"Of the bird, the mule and the horse the color of the wings is the most important."
answered yesterday
ElliotElliot
111
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Elliot is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
You are describing an attribute of the listed item. It's position in the list is secondary to the attribute.
"The/An attribute of the first of those listed."
or
"The [attribute name] of the first of these."
If they are distinct things in the list then the attribute's position will be clear.
"Of the bird, the mule and the horse the color of the wings is the most important."
answered yesterday
ElliotElliot
111
New contributor
Elliot is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
You are describing an attribute of the listed item. It's position in the list is secondary to the attribute.
"The/An attribute of the first of those listed."
or
"The [attribute name] of the first of these."
If they are distinct things in the list then the attribute's position will be clear.
"Of the bird, the mule and the horse the color of the wings is the most important."
answered yesterday
ElliotElliot
111
New contributor
Elliot is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You are describing an attribute of the listed item. It's position in the list is secondary to the attribute.
"The/An attribute of the first of those listed."
or
"The [attribute name] of the first of these."
If they are distinct things in the list then the attribute's position will be clear.
"Of the bird, the mule and the horse the color of the wings is the most important."
answered yesterday
ElliotElliot
111
New contributor
Elliot is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
ElliotElliot
111
New contributor
Elliot is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
ElliotElliot
111
answered yesterday
ElliotElliot
111
111
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New contributor
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add a comment |
add a comment |
This seems to be a pertinent question as I haven't seen this discussed in any grammar or on this site.
When the noun phrase ends with a noun we are quite happy to put an 's on the end. This is often described in grammars as the "King of Spain's daughter" or some similar phrase and is discussed on SE here. However, since the 's can only be added to a noun, we struggle when the phrase ends in a word that cannot be a noun:
the first of these's
the last there was's
I said "cannot be a noun" not "is not a noun" because it is is OK to use a word that can be a noun, even if it is not a noun in the context
Henry the Eighth's
You just have to find another way to say it
the first's attribute
of these, the first's attribute
the attribute of the first of these
answered 20 mins ago
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,567216
add a comment |
This seems to be a pertinent question as I haven't seen this discussed in any grammar or on this site.
When the noun phrase ends with a noun we are quite happy to put an 's on the end. This is often described in grammars as the "King of Spain's daughter" or some similar phrase and is discussed on SE here. However, since the 's can only be added to a noun, we struggle when the phrase ends in a word that cannot be a noun:
the first of these's
the last there was's
I said "cannot be a noun" not "is not a noun" because it is is OK to use a word that can be a noun, even if it is not a noun in the context
Henry the Eighth's
You just have to find another way to say it
the first's attribute
of these, the first's attribute
the attribute of the first of these
answered 20 mins ago
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,567216
add a comment |
This seems to be a pertinent question as I haven't seen this discussed in any grammar or on this site.
When the noun phrase ends with a noun we are quite happy to put an 's on the end. This is often described in grammars as the "King of Spain's daughter" or some similar phrase and is discussed on SE here. However, since the 's can only be added to a noun, we struggle when the phrase ends in a word that cannot be a noun:
the first of these's
the last there was's
I said "cannot be a noun" not "is not a noun" because it is is OK to use a word that can be a noun, even if it is not a noun in the context
Henry the Eighth's
You just have to find another way to say it
the first's attribute
of these, the first's attribute
the attribute of the first of these
answered 20 mins ago
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,567216
This seems to be a pertinent question as I haven't seen this discussed in any grammar or on this site.
When the noun phrase ends with a noun we are quite happy to put an 's on the end. This is often described in grammars as the "King of Spain's daughter" or some similar phrase and is discussed on SE here. However, since the 's can only be added to a noun, we struggle when the phrase ends in a word that cannot be a noun:
the first of these's
the last there was's
I said "cannot be a noun" not "is not a noun" because it is is OK to use a word that can be a noun, even if it is not a noun in the context
Henry the Eighth's
You just have to find another way to say it
the first's attribute
of these, the first's attribute
the attribute of the first of these
answered 20 mins ago
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,567216
answered 20 mins ago
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,567216
answered 20 mins ago
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,567216
answered 20 mins ago
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,567216
2,567216
add a comment |
add a comment |
jezmck is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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jezmck is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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3
Is there some reason you've discarded the first attribute or the first one’s attribute?
– tchrist♦
yesterday
Just use the name of the first list item again rather than jump through hoops to avoid it. Or use its position: item number one’s attribute.
– Jim
3 hours ago
There is no such word as "these's".
– TrevorD
3 hours ago