Monday, February 3, 2014

syntax - Ellipsis in noun phrases with possessive case





Can you omit the second occurrence of the word "poems" in a sentence like the following?



I like Lord Byron's poems, and also enjoy a number of Percy Shelley's [poems].

Answer



Yes, you can.




Also, extending @FumbleFingers' comment, you could even omit the first "poems":




I like Lord Byron's (and also enjoy a number of Percy Shelley's) poems.



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