And lo on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:38:31 -0000, Nicolas Alvarez  
<nic### [at] gmailisthebestcom> did spake, saying:


>> Warp wrote:
>>>   When I was in school they told us that in English "'s" should only be
>>> used with people, otherwise the "of" version should be used. For  
>>> example,
>>> you shouldn't say "the house's window" but "the window of the house".
>>  As a native speaker of American english, I will say I've never heard  
>> of such a rule. Indeed, such a "window of the house" would make me  
>> think you're a native French speaker speaking English or something.

Agreed, contractions tend to be the rule for native English speakers.

> I remember "the shop window" (no 's) from a book we used at school...

"Shop window" has been elevated to a specific rather then general case,  
you are discussing the window which is used by the shop to display their  
wares; despite the fact there may be more then one of them. If, however,  
you were refering to a general window above the shop then you would say  
'the shop's window was broken'

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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