My father's house > house of my father
that father image > that image like (a) father
that woman's doctor > doctor of that woman
that woman doctor > that doctor who is a woman.
As we see, the relations expressed by a 'possessive case' noun can usually be rendered by its 'common case' opposite preceded by of (the so-called 'of-phrase'). The 'possessive case' noun and the corresponding of-phrase are synonymous, but to a certain extent only.
Unlike the possessive case, the o/-phrase is freely used with all nouns irrespective of their lexical meanings. Its range of meaning is much wider than that of the possessive case. Thus, besides the 'possessive case' relations already mentioned it may show the relations of appraisal (a man of strong will), of material (a table of oak), of composition (a group of children), etc.
The of-phrase is believed to sound more formal than the possessive case. In formal style it is more common than the possessive.
E. g. Head of a girl (in a picture or sculpture exhibition programme), not a girl's head.
In the Russian language a noun in the genitive case may be adnominal and adverbial, i.e. it can be attached to a noun and to a verb.
E.g. дом отца, боюсь грозы.
The possessive case is practically adnominal, as in Tom's departure.
In sentences like The idea is George's, where George's is not followed by a noun, it is sometimes called the 'independent possessive'. But in reality it is not independent, as it refers to some noun, usually mentioned previously (the word idea in the sentence above). Therefore such possessives are called 'anaphorical'. But this term would be misapplied in cases like George's was a brilliant idea, where the noun idea follows the possessive.
Seeing that there is exact parallelism with the use of the so-called absolute possessive pronouns (The idea is mine. Mine was a brilliant idea), we shall call such possessives absolute.
In Modern English there exists a peculiar construction which is a combination of the possessive case and the of-phrase. The construction makes it possible to place an article, a demonstrative pronoun, etc. before the modified noun. Cf. John's friend and a (the, that) friend of John's. The possessive case in the construction is absolute. Cf. a (the, that) friend of yours.
The construction usually has a partitive meaning. A friend of Mary's — one of Mary's friends. It may also be used for stylistic purposes mostly with ironic colouring. That long nose of John's.
In cases like I dined at my aunt's or a garden party at Brown's the possessive case is really independent. It does not refer to any other noun, and does not correspond to an absolute possessive pronoun. The meaning of the independent possessive is that of locality. It denotes the house, shop, cathedral, place of business, etc. of the person denoted by the noun. E. g. the baker's, draper's, watchmaker's, etc., also St. Paul's .
2.3.2 The use of Articles with Nouns in Some Set Expessions
a) The use of indefinite article with nouns in some set expressions.[33]
1. in a hurry — второпях
Things done in a hurry are done badly.
2. tohaveamindtodosomething (agreatmind, agoodmind) — иметь желание что-либо сделать, быть склонным что-либо сделать
I have a great mind to have a serious talk with her.
3. to fly into a passion — прийти в бешенство
If you contradict him, he will fly into a passion.
4. to get in a fury (in a rage) — прийти и ярость
If you contradict him, he will get in a fury (in a rage).
5. to take a fancy to (chiefly with names of living beings) — проникнуться симпатией, по чувствоватьрасположение
I wonder why she took a fancy to the little girl.
6. in a low (loud) voice — тихо (громко)
Don't speak in a low voice.
7. a great many (with countables) — много
I have spoken to him a great many times.
8. a great deal (with uncountables) — много
We can't skate to-day, there is a great deal of snow on the ice.
9. it is a pity —жаль
It is a pity you did not go to the concert last night
10. it is a shame — стыдно
It is a shame not to know these elementary things.
11. it is a pleasure — приятно
It is a pleasure to read beautiful poetry.
12. as a result —в результате
As a result of the inhabitants' strenuous efforts the damaged city
13. to have a good time — хорошо провести время
Last night we went to an evening party and had a very good time.
14. to be at a loss —быть в недоумении
She was at a loss what to say.
15. at a glance — сразу, с первого взгляда
She saw at a glance that something had happened.
b) The use of definite article with nouns in some set expressions.
1. it is out of the question —об этом не может быть и речи
'Will you go to the theatre tonight?" "It's out of the question. I have lots of things to do."
2. to take the trouble to do something — потрудиться
You had a difficult text to translate and you did not take the trouble to consult the dictionary.
3. in the original — в оригинале
You know English well enough to read Dickens in the original.
4. to play the piano (the violin, the harp) — игратьнарояле (скрипке, арфе)
She plays the piano very well.
5. to keep the house — сидеть дома
She has a cold and will have to keep the house for a couple of days.
6. tokeepthebed — соблюдать постельный режим
She has a bad cold and will have to keep the bed for a couple of days.
7. on the whole — в целом
On the whole Tom is a pleasant fellow, but sometimes he has whims.
8. the other day (refers to the past) — па днях
I met him the other day.
9. on the one hand…on the other hand — с одной стороны...с другой стороны
On the one hand he certainly excites suspicion, but on the other hand we have not enough evidence against him. (Oppenhe'un)
10. to tell (to speak) the truth — говорить правду; to tell the truth — no правде говоря
He always speaks (tells) the truth. To tell the truth, I don't like the girl.
11. to be on the safe side —для верности
I am almost sure of the pronunciation of this name, but to be on the safe side let us consult the pronouncing dictionary.
c) Nouns in some set expressions use without an article.
1. outofdoors — на дворе, на улице, вне дома
The children spent most of the time out of doors.
2. to take to heart — приниматьблизкоксердцу
Don't take things too much to heart.
3. to take offence — обижаться
If he had heard your remark, he would have taken offence.
4. to"1 give (to get, to asft) per mission— дать (получить, просить) разрешение
I asked permission to keep the book a little longer.
5. toloseheart —терять мужество, приходить в уныние
He found the subject very difficult at first, but he did not lose heart.
6. at present — внастоящеевремя
You may go home, we don't want you at present.
7. from morning till night—сутрадовечера
He worked in his litte garden from morning till night.
8. from head to foot —с головы до ног
She was dressed in furs from liead to foot.
9. from beginning to end — с началадоконца
The whole story is a lie from beginning to end.
10. atfirstsight — с первого взгляда
He fell in love with her- at first sight.
11. by chance — случайно
They met quite by chance.
12. by mistake — по ошибке
I have brought the wrong book by mistake.
13. for hours —часами
He could read for hours.
14. for ages —целую вечность
I have not seen you for ages.
15. by land, by air, by sea — сушей, повоздуху, морем
I like travelling by sea.
16. to go to sea — статьморяком
My sister wants to be a doctor, and my brother wants to go to sea.
17. on deck — на палубе
We spent hours on deck.
18. to keep house —вести хозяйство
Her sister keeps house for her.
19. at sunrise —нарассвете
We left the town at sunrise.
20. at sunset — назакате
We arrived at the village at sunset.
21. at work —за работой
Whenever I come, he is always at work.
22. at peace — в мире
We want to be at peace with all countries.
2.3.3. Test Exercises
Test 1
Make personal nouns from these words.
1. drama (____ = someone who writes plays)
2. guard (____ = a person who cares for persons or property)
3. police (____ = a member of a police force)
4. botany (____ = a biologist specializing in the study of plants)
5. surgery (____ = a physician who specializes in surgery)
6. diet (____ = a specialist in the study of nutrition)
7. idealism (____ = someone guided more by ideals than by practical considerations)
8. technique (____ = someone known for high skill in some intellectual or artistic technique)
9. mathematics (____ = a person skilled in mathematics)
10. accounting (____ = someone who maintains and audits business accounts)
11. drug (____ = a health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugs)
12. essay (____ = a writer of literary works)
13. shoe (____ = a person who makes or repairs shoes)
14. satire (____ = uses ridicule, irony, sarcasm)
15. beauty (____ = someone who works in a beauty parlour)
16. grammar (____ = a linguist who specializes in the study of grammar and syntax)
17. dentistry (____ = a person qualified to practice dentistry)
18. assistance (____ = a person who helps someone do his job, providing him with practical support)
19. physics (____ = a licensed medical practitioner)
20. physics (____ = a scientist trained in physics)
21. technology (____ = a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems)
22. simple (____ = a person lacking intelligence or common sense)
23. serving (____ = a person working in the service of another)
24. senate (____ = a member of a senate)
25. realism (____ = a philosopher who believes that universals are real and exist independently of anyone thinking of them)
26. piano (____ = a person who plays the piano)
27. philosophy (____ = a specialist in philosophy, a wise person who is calm and rational)
28. pharmacy (____ = a health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugs)
29. novel (____ = someone who writes novels)
30. nationalism (____ = one who loves and is prepared to defend his or her country)
31. music (____ = someone who plays a musical instrument as a profession)
32. industrialism (____ = someone who manages or has significant financial interest in an industrial enterprise)
33. humanity (____ = someone devoted to the promotion of human welfare and to social reforms)
34. fire (____= a person who tends fires, a member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires)
35. environment (____ = someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution)
36. electric (____ = a person who installs or repairs electrical or telephone lines)
37. economy (____= an expert in the science of economics)
38. cycle (____ = a person who rides a bicycle)
39. communism (____ = a member of the communist party, a socialist who advocates communism)
40. biology (____ = a scientist who studies living organisms)
Right Answers:
1. dramatist
2. guardian
3. policeman
4. botanist
5. surgeon
6. dietician
7. idealist
8. technician
9. mathematician
10. accountant
11. druggist
12. essayist
13. shoemaker
14. satirist
15. beautician
16. grammarian
17. dentist
18. assistant
19. physician
20. Physicist
21. technologist
22. simpleton
23. servant
24. senator
25. realist
26. pianist
27. philosopher
28. pharmacist
29. novelist
30. nationalist
31. musician
32. industrialist
33. humanitarian
34. fire-fighter
35. environmentalist
36. electrician
37. economist
38. cyclist
39. communist
40. biologist
Test 2.
Point out right meaning of each noun
1. n. momentum
(a) a description or report of something as modified by one's character or opinion
(b) an impetus
(c) outward appearance
(d) an image or likeness
2. n. impertinence
(a) the change of endings in nouns and adjectives to express their different relations of gender
(b) set way of saying or doing something
(c) rudeness
(d) particular conduct or administration of affairs
3. n. discord
(a) absence of harmoniousness
(b) a performer of moral and social duties
(c) simultaneousness
(d) something that begins or expresses beginning
4. n. ultimatum
(a) carriage of the body in going
(b) a final statement or proposal, as concerning terms or conditions
(c) a mark for failure or bad conduct
(d) an instrument for recording the phenomena of earthquakes
5. n. auricle
(a) a person raving with madness
(b) one of the two chambers of the heart which receives the blood from the veins
(c) any dialectic pronunciation of English, especially that of the Irish people
(d) a great Hindu prince
6. n. entrails
(a) the galaxy
(b) that which moves the mind or inflames the passions
(c) the junction of two bodies at an equally divided angle
(d) internal parts of an animal
7. n. pentagon
(a) temporary diminution of a disease
(b) conduct directed against public order and the tranquillity of the state
(c) interpretation
(d) a figure, especially, with five angles and five sides
8. n. degradation
(a) diminution, as of strength or magnitude
(b) the setting forth of a subject under the guise of another subject of aptly suggestive likeness
(c) masculinity
(d) a brief treatise or essay, usually on a subject of current interest
9. n. opprobrium
(a) any growth of leaves
(b) a young goose
(c) a probability
(d) the state of being scornfully reproached or accused of evil
10. n. corpuscle
(a) a minute particle of matter
(b) subtle contrivance used to gain a point
(c) something added or to be added
(d) a god, goddess or divine person
Keys:
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. b
5. b
6. d
7. d
8. a
9. d
10. b
2.4 Comparison of English and Russian nouns
Let us compare the English noun with its Russian counterpart[34]. The five properties we use as criteria for distinguishing parts of speech will serve as the basis of comparison.
1. The lexico-grammatical meanings are similar.
2. The variety of lexico-grammatical morphemes is much greater in the Russian noun. A peculiarity of Russian is the abundance of suffixes of "subjective appraisal", as in братец, билетик, петушок, карманчик, частица, ножка, пылинка, хохотушка, звездочка, дедушка, шалунишка, доченька, платьице, старикашка, дурачина, голосище, etc. (Cf.-let, in booklet, streamlet, etc.).
3. In both languages we find the categories of number and case. But their opposemes, especially those of the category of case, differ greatly in the two languages.
a) A Russian case opposeme contains six members as against the English two-member case opposeme.
b) In English the "singular number, common case" grammeme is as a rule not marked. In Russian any grammeme can be marked.
E. g. рука, окно, etc.
c) The productive positive number and case morphemes are standard in English (-(e)s and -'s) and non-standard in Russian (столы, стулья, книги, столов, стульев, книг, etc.).
d) Number and case are sometimes expressed by separate morphemes in English (e. g. oxen's), while in Russian they are inseparable.