Tuesday, August 4, 2015

sentence construction - Can I say "Is this yours book"?


I know that it's acceptable to say "Is this book - yours", but I'm asking about the other form of: "Is this yours book"? Is it correct construction?



Answer



Is "Is this yours book?" correct?
No, it's not correct.




You seem to be confused by this and your/yours.


This can work as a "determiner". It can also work as a "demonstrative pronoun".




This book is mine. -- This is a determiner. A determiner is used with a noun.
This is a book. -- This is a "demonstrative pronoun". It's a pronoun. It works like a noun.



Your is a "possessive determiner".
Yours is a "possessive pronoun".



That book is your book. -- Your is a possessive determiner. It's used with a noun.
That book is yours. -- Yours is a possessive pronoun. It works like a noun.




In the last sentence ("That book is yours"), yours = your book.




If English is still new to you, I'd recommend turning a question ("interrogative sentence") into a plain, non-question sentence ("declarative sentence") first. It's easier to understand declarative sentences. Let's start with "Is this book yours?", which you know that it's acceptable:



Is this book yours?
(~ This book is yours.) -- This is a determiner. Yours is a possessive pronoun.



Let's try other variants:



Is this book your book?

(~ This book is your book.) -- This is a determiner. Your is a possessive determiner.


Is this your book?
(~ This is your book.) -- This is a demonstrative pronoun. Your is a possessive determiner.


Is this yours?
(~ This is yours.) -- This is a demonstrative pronoun. Yours is a possessive pronoun.



Why can't you use "Is this yours book?"?


Because yours is already a (possessive) pronoun. It works like a noun. If you use yours to mean "your book", your sentence could be understood like this:



Is this yours book? <-- DO NOT USE THIS!

(~ This is yours book)
(~ This is your book book) -- "This is your book book" doesn't make any sense!



And that's why "Is this yours book?" is not correct.




Bonus: Table of basic personal pronouns of English on Wikipedia could be useful. It covers all English personal pronouns. I recommend it.


No comments:

Post a Comment

Simple past, Present perfect Past perfect

Can you tell me which form of the following sentences is the correct one please? Imagine two friends discussing the gym... I was in a good s...