Does a possessive still require an apostrophe when a noun has been omitted to avoid repetition?

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This is quite hard to explain (and seemingly impossible to search for on Google) so here's an example: In relation to dogs and their owners (masters), I saw this sentence: "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters."

Does the word "masters" require a possessive apostrophe, even though the noun "understanding" has been omitted from the end of the sentence in order to avoid repetition?

possessives apostrophe

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asked 8 hours ago

Victoria

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Victoria is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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up vote
1
down vote

favorite

1

This is quite hard to explain (and seemingly impossible to search for on Google) so here's an example: In relation to dogs and their owners (masters), I saw this sentence: "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters."

Does the word "masters" require a possessive apostrophe, even though the noun "understanding" has been omitted from the end of the sentence in order to avoid repetition?

possessives apostrophe

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

Victoria

1063

New contributor

Victoria 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 | 

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

1

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

1

1

This is quite hard to explain (and seemingly impossible to search for on Google) so here's an example: In relation to dogs and their owners (masters), I saw this sentence: "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters."

Does the word "masters" require a possessive apostrophe, even though the noun "understanding" has been omitted from the end of the sentence in order to avoid repetition?

possessives apostrophe

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

Victoria

1063

New contributor

Victoria is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

This is quite hard to explain (and seemingly impossible to search for on Google) so here's an example: In relation to dogs and their owners (masters), I saw this sentence: "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters."

Does the word "masters" require a possessive apostrophe, even though the noun "understanding" has been omitted from the end of the sentence in order to avoid repetition?

possessives apostrophe

possessives apostrophe

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

Victoria

1063

New contributor

Victoria is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

Victoria

1063

New contributor

Victoria is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

Victoria

1063

New contributor

Victoria is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 8 hours ago

Victoria

1063

asked 8 hours ago

Victoria

1063

1063

New contributor

Victoria is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Victoria is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Victoria 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 | 

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
5
down vote

In the example sentence, "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters," the actual thing being compared is the understanding of their masters. The sentence therefore requires a possessive form for "masters", e.g., "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters'."

Which possessive to use (singular or plural) depends on what the sentence is trying to convey. If all the dogs belong to a single master, you would use the single possessive. If the dogs referenced belong to two or more different masters, you would use the plural.

Also, it should be pointed out that the possessive noun form is only required if the sentence is indicating that the noun possesses something. For instance, the sentence, "These dogs are as lazy as their masters!" is correct without the possessive because the sentence is not referring to anything the masters possess.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

R Mac

1,79548

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My cat's coat is prettier than my dog's.
  – Michael Harvey
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Unless you have two dogs, in which case, your cat's coat is prettier than your dogs'. Or you have two cats who both have prettier coats than your one dog. In that case, your cats' coats are prettier than your dog's. Or, gosh darnit, you have two cats and two dogs but the cats both have prettier coats! Then, your cats' coats are prettier than your dogs'.
  – R Mac
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My mistress' eyes are larger than yours.
  – Michael Harvey
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey I'm afraid it would either be mistress's or mistresses'. I do admit I am curious which it is. ;)
  – R Mac
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey How many syllables are in the word mistress'? When I speak the possessive form of mistress it has three syllables, so I would write it so that it looks as if it should have three: mistress's.
  – JeremyC
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
2
down vote

Whilst I agree with the answer given by @R Mac, that the plural possessive apostrophe is required, I don't think I would write it like that, and certainly I wouldn't say it.

The problem is that the apostrophe is needed simply to provide grammatical clarity. And when speaking a listener cannot perceive the apostrophe.

I would say:
Their understanding of the subject is as good as that of their masters.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

WS2

50.3k26109234

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would it be correct to call this an example of the possessive genitive ?
  – Nigel J
  5 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
5
down vote

In the example sentence, "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters," the actual thing being compared is the understanding of their masters. The sentence therefore requires a possessive form for "masters", e.g., "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters'."

Which possessive to use (singular or plural) depends on what the sentence is trying to convey. If all the dogs belong to a single master, you would use the single possessive. If the dogs referenced belong to two or more different masters, you would use the plural.

Also, it should be pointed out that the possessive noun form is only required if the sentence is indicating that the noun possesses something. For instance, the sentence, "These dogs are as lazy as their masters!" is correct without the possessive because the sentence is not referring to anything the masters possess.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

R Mac

1,79548

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My cat's coat is prettier than my dog's.
  – Michael Harvey
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Unless you have two dogs, in which case, your cat's coat is prettier than your dogs'. Or you have two cats who both have prettier coats than your one dog. In that case, your cats' coats are prettier than your dog's. Or, gosh darnit, you have two cats and two dogs but the cats both have prettier coats! Then, your cats' coats are prettier than your dogs'.
  – R Mac
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My mistress' eyes are larger than yours.
  – Michael Harvey
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey I'm afraid it would either be mistress's or mistresses'. I do admit I am curious which it is. ;)
  – R Mac
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey How many syllables are in the word mistress'? When I speak the possessive form of mistress it has three syllables, so I would write it so that it looks as if it should have three: mistress's.
  – JeremyC
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
5
down vote

In the example sentence, "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters," the actual thing being compared is the understanding of their masters. The sentence therefore requires a possessive form for "masters", e.g., "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters'."

Which possessive to use (singular or plural) depends on what the sentence is trying to convey. If all the dogs belong to a single master, you would use the single possessive. If the dogs referenced belong to two or more different masters, you would use the plural.

Also, it should be pointed out that the possessive noun form is only required if the sentence is indicating that the noun possesses something. For instance, the sentence, "These dogs are as lazy as their masters!" is correct without the possessive because the sentence is not referring to anything the masters possess.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

R Mac

1,79548

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My cat's coat is prettier than my dog's.
  – Michael Harvey
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Unless you have two dogs, in which case, your cat's coat is prettier than your dogs'. Or you have two cats who both have prettier coats than your one dog. In that case, your cats' coats are prettier than your dog's. Or, gosh darnit, you have two cats and two dogs but the cats both have prettier coats! Then, your cats' coats are prettier than your dogs'.
  – R Mac
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My mistress' eyes are larger than yours.
  – Michael Harvey
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey I'm afraid it would either be mistress's or mistresses'. I do admit I am curious which it is. ;)
  – R Mac
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey How many syllables are in the word mistress'? When I speak the possessive form of mistress it has three syllables, so I would write it so that it looks as if it should have three: mistress's.
  – JeremyC
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
5
down vote

up vote
5
down vote

In the example sentence, "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters," the actual thing being compared is the understanding of their masters. The sentence therefore requires a possessive form for "masters", e.g., "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters'."

Which possessive to use (singular or plural) depends on what the sentence is trying to convey. If all the dogs belong to a single master, you would use the single possessive. If the dogs referenced belong to two or more different masters, you would use the plural.

Also, it should be pointed out that the possessive noun form is only required if the sentence is indicating that the noun possesses something. For instance, the sentence, "These dogs are as lazy as their masters!" is correct without the possessive because the sentence is not referring to anything the masters possess.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

R Mac

1,79548

In the example sentence, "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters," the actual thing being compared is the understanding of their masters. The sentence therefore requires a possessive form for "masters", e.g., "Their understanding of the subject is as good as their masters'."

Which possessive to use (singular or plural) depends on what the sentence is trying to convey. If all the dogs belong to a single master, you would use the single possessive. If the dogs referenced belong to two or more different masters, you would use the plural.

Also, it should be pointed out that the possessive noun form is only required if the sentence is indicating that the noun possesses something. For instance, the sentence, "These dogs are as lazy as their masters!" is correct without the possessive because the sentence is not referring to anything the masters possess.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

R Mac

1,79548

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

R Mac

1,79548

answered 7 hours ago

R Mac

1,79548

answered 7 hours ago

R Mac

1,79548

1,79548

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My cat's coat is prettier than my dog's.
  – Michael Harvey
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Unless you have two dogs, in which case, your cat's coat is prettier than your dogs'. Or you have two cats who both have prettier coats than your one dog. In that case, your cats' coats are prettier than your dog's. Or, gosh darnit, you have two cats and two dogs but the cats both have prettier coats! Then, your cats' coats are prettier than your dogs'.
  – R Mac
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My mistress' eyes are larger than yours.
  – Michael Harvey
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey I'm afraid it would either be mistress's or mistresses'. I do admit I am curious which it is. ;)
  – R Mac
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey How many syllables are in the word mistress'? When I speak the possessive form of mistress it has three syllables, so I would write it so that it looks as if it should have three: mistress's.
  – JeremyC
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My cat's coat is prettier than my dog's.
  – Michael Harvey
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Unless you have two dogs, in which case, your cat's coat is prettier than your dogs'. Or you have two cats who both have prettier coats than your one dog. In that case, your cats' coats are prettier than your dog's. Or, gosh darnit, you have two cats and two dogs but the cats both have prettier coats! Then, your cats' coats are prettier than your dogs'.
  – R Mac
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My mistress' eyes are larger than yours.
  – Michael Harvey
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey I'm afraid it would either be mistress's or mistresses'. I do admit I am curious which it is. ;)
  – R Mac
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @MichaelHarvey How many syllables are in the word mistress'? When I speak the possessive form of mistress it has three syllables, so I would write it so that it looks as if it should have three: mistress's.
  – JeremyC
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

1

1

My cat's coat is prettier than my dog's.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago

My cat's coat is prettier than my dog's.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago

1

1

Unless you have two dogs, in which case, your cat's coat is prettier than your dogs'. Or you have two cats who both have prettier coats than your one dog. In that case, your cats' coats are prettier than your dog's. Or, gosh darnit, you have two cats and two dogs but the cats both have prettier coats! Then, your cats' coats are prettier than your dogs'.
– R Mac
7 hours ago

Unless you have two dogs, in which case, your cat's coat is prettier than your dogs'. Or you have two cats who both have prettier coats than your one dog. In that case, your cats' coats are prettier than your dog's. Or, gosh darnit, you have two cats and two dogs but the cats both have prettier coats! Then, your cats' coats are prettier than your dogs'.
– R Mac
7 hours ago

1

1

My mistress' eyes are larger than yours.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago

My mistress' eyes are larger than yours.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago

@MichaelHarvey I'm afraid it would either be mistress's or mistresses'. I do admit I am curious which it is. ;)
– R Mac
4 hours ago

@MichaelHarvey I'm afraid it would either be mistress's or mistresses'. I do admit I am curious which it is. ;)
– R Mac
4 hours ago

1

1

@MichaelHarvey How many syllables are in the word mistress'? When I speak the possessive form of mistress it has three syllables, so I would write it so that it looks as if it should have three: mistress's.
– JeremyC
2 hours ago

@MichaelHarvey How many syllables are in the word mistress'? When I speak the possessive form of mistress it has three syllables, so I would write it so that it looks as if it should have three: mistress's.
– JeremyC
2 hours ago

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
2
down vote

Whilst I agree with the answer given by @R Mac, that the plural possessive apostrophe is required, I don't think I would write it like that, and certainly I wouldn't say it.

The problem is that the apostrophe is needed simply to provide grammatical clarity. And when speaking a listener cannot perceive the apostrophe.

I would say:
Their understanding of the subject is as good as that of their masters.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

WS2

50.3k26109234

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would it be correct to call this an example of the possessive genitive ?
  – Nigel J
  5 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Whilst I agree with the answer given by @R Mac, that the plural possessive apostrophe is required, I don't think I would write it like that, and certainly I wouldn't say it.

The problem is that the apostrophe is needed simply to provide grammatical clarity. And when speaking a listener cannot perceive the apostrophe.

I would say:
Their understanding of the subject is as good as that of their masters.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

WS2

50.3k26109234

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would it be correct to call this an example of the possessive genitive ?
  – Nigel J
  5 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

up vote
2
down vote

Whilst I agree with the answer given by @R Mac, that the plural possessive apostrophe is required, I don't think I would write it like that, and certainly I wouldn't say it.

The problem is that the apostrophe is needed simply to provide grammatical clarity. And when speaking a listener cannot perceive the apostrophe.

I would say:
Their understanding of the subject is as good as that of their masters.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

WS2

50.3k26109234

Whilst I agree with the answer given by @R Mac, that the plural possessive apostrophe is required, I don't think I would write it like that, and certainly I wouldn't say it.

The problem is that the apostrophe is needed simply to provide grammatical clarity. And when speaking a listener cannot perceive the apostrophe.

I would say:
Their understanding of the subject is as good as that of their masters.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

WS2

50.3k26109234

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

WS2

50.3k26109234

answered 6 hours ago

WS2

50.3k26109234

answered 6 hours ago

WS2

50.3k26109234

50.3k26109234

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would it be correct to call this an example of the possessive genitive ?
  – Nigel J
  5 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would it be correct to call this an example of the possessive genitive ?
  – Nigel J
  5 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

Would it be correct to call this an example of the possessive genitive ?
– Nigel J
5 mins ago

Would it be correct to call this an example of the possessive genitive ?
– Nigel J
5 mins ago

add a comment | 

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