Common Mistake: Incorrect Use of Possessive Case After Prepositions

One of the most common grammatical errors that people make is the incorrect use of the possessive case after prepositions. Prepositions are words that typically show a relationship between a noun or pronoun and another element in the sentence. These relationships can include location, direction, time, and possession. However, when it comes to indicating possession after certain prepositions, many people get confused and make mistakes.

The Possessive Case

The possessive case is used to indicate ownership or possession. In English, this is often done by adding an apostrophe followed by an "s" ('s) to the noun or pronoun. For example:

• The cat's tail
• John's car

However, when certain prepositions are used, the possessive form is not needed. This is because the preposition already indicates possession or ownership. Let's take a closer look at some common prepositions and how they affect the use of possessive pronouns.

Prepositions That Do Not Require the Possessive Case

1. With: When the preposition "with" is used, the possessive case is not required. For example:

• I went to the store with my friend. (NOT: with my friend's)

2. Without: Just like "with," the preposition "without" does not need the possessive case. For example:

• He enjoys eating pizza without cheese. (NOT: without cheese's)

3. At/in/on: These prepositions do not require the possessive form when indicating a location. For example:

• She lives at her parents' house. (NOT: at her parents's house)
• The book is on the table. (NOT: on the table's)

4. To: The preposition "to" is used for indicating direction and does not require the possessive case. For example:

• She handed the phone to her brother. (NOT: to her brother's)

Linguix Grammar Checker

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