dependentgenitive

dependentgenitive is a term used in linguistics to describe a specific type of genitive construction. It refers to a possessive phrase where the genitive element is not a noun or pronoun in isolation, but rather a dependent clause or phrase that modifies a noun. This dependent element typically expresses possession or a close relationship to the head noun.

In English, dependent genitive constructions are less common than standard genitives like "John's book" or "the dog's tail." However, they can be found in certain contexts. For instance, in phrases like "a feeling of dread" or "a sense of duty," the genitive is expressed by a prepositional phrase ("of dread," "of duty") that functions similarly to a possessive. These phrases indicate that the "feeling" or "sense" is characterized by dread or duty.

Another example can be seen in constructions where a noun is possessed by a whole clause, although this is often considered a more complex or idiomatic structure. The core idea is that the genitive relationship is not a simple possessor-possessed item but involves a more elaborate grammatical structure acting as the possessor. The term emphasizes the dependency of the genitive element on the head noun it modifies.