核心问题
您在's/of 条中写道,使用名词属格的主要是人称名词、动物名词、集体名词、地理名词、位置名词以及时间名词,但是,下列名词的属格该如何解释呢? at arm's length, science's influence
词典解答
我们在's/of 条中那么说,只是为了便于学习者掌握和记忆,其实是不全面的。实际上,除了上面提到的名词之外,还有一类名词也常常使用属格形式,这类名词叫做“与人类活动有特殊关系的名词”(nouns of special relevance to human activity)。顾名思义,这类名词所包含的词项是极其广泛的,例如:brain, mind, life, duty, game, love, book, television 等等。下面是引自 CGEL 的一些实例:
the brain's total weight the game's history
the mind's development science's influence
the body's needs love's spirit
my life's aim the play's philosophy
in freedom's name the book's true importance
the treaty's ratification the novel's structure
duty's call a word's function
the poll's results
television's future