leaving out "has" or using possessive?

Ken · Jan 5, 2009

Walking my cat would be easier if she had a retractable leash like my dog's...which would also enable me to read a book while I walked her.

or:

Walking my cat would be easier if it had a retractable leash like my dog...which would also enable me to read a book while I walked her. ("has" being understood and left out)

Thanks in advance.

(*ellipsis meant to signify a break in thought, on the MC's part, not the left out has)

Haggis · Jan 5, 2009

Ken said:
Walking my cat would be easier if she had a retractable leash like my dog's...which would also enable me to read a book while I walked her.

or:

Walking my cat would be easier if it had a retractable leash like my dog...which would also enable me to read a book while I walked her. ("has" being understood and left out)

Thanks in advance.

(*ellipsis meant to signify a break in thought, on the MC's part, not the left out has)

I don't think # 2 works, Ken. It suggests that the retractable leash is like your dog.

Ken · Jan 5, 2009

I see what you're saying. Guess I'll go with the first then. Thanks.

vixey · Jan 5, 2009

"Walking my cat would be easier if I used my dog's retractable leash."

Just another option.

alleycat · Jan 5, 2009

" . . . like I do for my dog . . "?

Ken · Jan 5, 2009

thanks, Vixey. Yours sounds better, grammatically, and I would use it if I didn't have to specify that the leash would be another new one, and not the same as the dog's to fit in with what follows.

Ken · Jan 5, 2009

or I could go with:

Walking my cat would be easier if she had a retractable leash like my dog has...which would also enable me to read a book while I walked her.

Bufty · Jan 5, 2009

I haven't lived, it seems. Where do people actually read books while walking their cats on rectractable leashes?

Ken · Jan 5, 2009

...sentence is for a cartoon strip ;-)

blacbird · Jan 5, 2009

Kitteh can haz retractable leash?

caw

Ken · Jan 5, 2009

...funny stuff, Blacbird, but perhaps better appreciated in Office Party.

(Thanks again for the input, up above. Got the sentence in proper form, now.)

alleycat · Jan 5, 2009

If I wasn't clear in my earlier post, this was what I meant:

Walking my cat would be easier if I had a retractable leash for her like I do for my dog...

But it sounds like you've already found a workable solution.

Ken · Jan 5, 2009

alleycat said:
If I wasn't clear in my earlier post, this was what I meant:

Walking my cat would be easier if I had a retractable leash for her like I do for my dog...

But it sounds like you've already found a workable solution.

hey, this sounds good. Very clear as to what is going on. Thanks. Even if I don't go with it I'll definitely store the grammatical construction away for later use.

ideagirl · Jan 6, 2009

Ken said:
Walking my cat would be easier if she had a retractable leash like my dog's...which would also enable me to read a book while I walked her.

or:

Walking my cat would be easier if it had a retractable leash like my dog...which would also enable me to read a book while I walked her. ("has" being understood and left out)

My vote goes to #1. With #2, it sounds like your dog itself somehow features or includes a retractable leash--I picture a leash that retracts right into your dog's neck, as if your dog were a toy!

Also, since you presumably know the gender of your cat, it sounds weird to me for you to refer to her as "it" in #2. I can say "it" of your dog because I have no idea what gender it is, but coming from you it sounds weird.

Ken · Jan 6, 2009

ahh, just a typo. It isn't my cat, but belongs to the MC who is doing the speaking here. Thanks for the input. // Got this sentence and the piece it goes with all settled now, and am presently laboring on another troublsome one, which may require more help ;-)

smoothseas · Jan 6, 2009

Bufty said:
I haven't lived, it seems. Where do people actually read books while walking their cats on rectractable leashes?

Yeah... I'd like to know the answer to that, too...

Ken · Jan 6, 2009

...if it gets published I'll let you know where you can order a copy to find out ;-)

Ken · Jan 6, 2009

ps This piece did have a bit of a basis in reality. I spotted a news clip a few days ago about somebody walking their cat on a leash. Did a quick search on Yahoo news and found the article was about a new book. The link for anyone interested: http://www.walkyourcat.com/

:-D

maestrowork · Jan 6, 2009

"... like my dog's" or ".... like my dog does."

Ken · Jan 6, 2009

.."does?" Yikes, I'd never have guessed that. (I'd have gone for "dog has," or "dog's got.) Gotta read the grammar books again. Thanks. Stored away for future reference.

rugcat · Jan 6, 2009

Ken said:
...funny stuff, Blacbird, but perhaps better appreciated in Office Party.

I agree. Grammar is serious business, very serious indeed.

Ken · Jan 6, 2009

rugcat said:
I agree. Grammar is serious business, very serious indeed.

...if you've got a point to make, make it. Stand behind your words, not off to the side of them. (Even the best composed sarcasm isn't always clear, either, which can leave people wondering what one is getting at.)

edt: plz disregard this post. My complaint was more with someone above, whom I've just rep'd. // Thanks again to those who've given constructive advise here

rugcat · Jan 6, 2009

Ken said:
...if you've got a point to make, make it. Stand behind your words, not off to the side of them. (Even the best composed sarcasm isn't always clear, either, which can leave people wondering what one is getting at.)

That's the point. It's supposed to make you think.

But if you insist on having it spelled out, you responded to a simple lighthearted one sentence post with a chiding admonition instructing the poster to be more appropriate. A little humor injected into any thread is not the same as a derail, and to me comes across as pompous and heavy handed.

BTW, either of your examples is fine. In the first, you're simply leaving off the implied word ..."like my dog's (leash)"

In the second, you're leaving off the implied verb "...like my dog (has, or does)

ETA: Ken and I have come to an understanding -- harsh words and snippy replies are counter productive, on both sides.

leaving out "has" or using possessive?

Ken

Haggis

Evil, undead Chihuahua

Ken

vixey

C'est la vie!

alleycat

Still around

Ken

Ken

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Ken

blacbird

Ken

alleycat

Still around

Ken

ideagirl

Ken

smoothseas

Life sucks... Then ya die...

Ken

Ken

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Ken

rugcat

Lost in the Fog

Ken

rugcat

Lost in the Fog