Page 450 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

443
Compare:
That's my coat. That coat is mine.
Which is your car? Which car is yours?
Whose can be used with a following noun (see 441) or without.
Whose car is that? Whose is that car? We do not use articles with mine etc.
Can I borrow your keys? I can't find mine. (NOT : ettll'tjintl the min£.) One's cannot be used without a following noun; instead, we use one's own.
It's nice to have a room ofone's own. (NOT ••• Bj"6n£'s.) Its is not normally used without a following noun.
I've had my breakfast, and the dog's had its breakfast too. (NOT .•. ami the Mg'S :1tJti its.)
For the older English ronn rhine. see 392.
possessives (5): a friend of mine etc
We cannot usually put a possessive between another determiner and a noun. We can say my friend, Ann's friend, a friend or that friend, but not a myfrielld or thatlbtrt'sfriemi. Instead, we use a structure with of+ possessive.
detenniner + noun + of+ possessive
That policeman is a friend o f mine. He's a cousin o f the Queen's. How's that brother ofyours? She's a friend ofmy father's. I met another boyfriend o f Lucy's yesterday.
Have you heard this new idea ofthe boss's?
He watched each gesture ofhers as ifshe was a stranger.
My work is no business ofyours.
The structure has a variant in which a noun does not have possessive's: this is sometimes used when talking about relationships.
He's a cousin ofthe Queen. She's a friend ofmyfather. The word own is used in a similar structure (see 405).
possessives (5): a friend of mine etc 443
I wish I had a room ofmy own. 444 prefer
When we say that we prefer one activity to another, two -ing forms can be used. The second can be introduced by to or rather than (more formal).
I prefer riding to walking. (NOT I fJi'€Jf:er riding ftJ walle.)
She prefers making toys for her children rather than buying them.
Prefer can also be followed by an infinitive (this is normal after would prefer). We can use an infinitive (without to) or an -ing form after rather than in this case.
She prefers to make toys for her children rather than buy/buying them.
I would prefer to stay at home rather than drive/driving to your mother's.
For more about ro with -ing ronns, see 298.2.
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