Possessives with of

We cannot put a possessive between a noun and a determiner. We can say my friend, his friend, John's friend, a friend or that friend. But we can't say a my friend or that John's friend. Instead we use a structure with of + possessive.

Structure: determiner + noun + of + possessive

• He is a friend of mine.
• How is that brother of yours?
• He is a friend of my father's.
• He is a cousin of John's.
• Have you heard this new idea of the boss's?

Note that sometimes we use a noun without the possessive 's after of.

• He is a friend of my father.
• He is a cousin of John.

Sections in this article

Degrees of Comparison
Comparison using positive adjectives and adverbs
Comparison using comparative adjectives and adverbs
Comparison using superlative adjectives and adverbs
The difference between comparative and superlative
Degree modifiers with comparatives and superlatives
Making comparisons
Comparison of adjectives and adverbs
Pronouns after as and than

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