"A's B" and "B of A" ??(Queston to English natives)?

Question

I know "What is your father's name?" is a correct English sentence, but I wonder if "What is the name of your father" is also OK or not. At least, that doesn't sound against my ear.

However, someone quoted the following from a dictionary:
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Michael Swan "Oxford Basic English Usage"

251-2 《's and of》

We use the possessive structure "A's B" when the first noun (=A) is the name of something living. In other cases, we can use the structure "the A of B".
（correct）my father's house
（wrong）the house of my father
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Let me hear English natives' opinions or feeling about this matter. Thanks in advance.
(Please specify your country and (approximate) age with your reply for better information.)

Answer 1

Yes, both are correct, but there are some context issues that come into play. For instance, you might say either "the value of the US dollar" or "the US dollar's value" - both can be found easily in print. That's an inanimate thing.

For living things (people, pets, farm animals, etc.), the large majority would use the possessive form - the "of" would be understood, but would sound a little odd.

Sometimes, though, a speaker wants to emphasize the object, not its owner, and make the oblect the first word of a phrase or sentence, so he would resort to the "of" approach. However, even then he would not use a person's name this way. He would never say "the house of John". Here he would go yet another way to show possession - "the house belonging to John".

US English speaker - for more years than I care to remember.

Answer 2

Ok

From the UK and lets say >>30 (!)

The dictionary is quite correct, in a similar sense "My partner and I" is more correct that "Myself and my partner".
However the dictionary does not take into account current usage and changes in usage.
I would imagine only the most ardent pedant would be offended by the question "What is the name of your father ?"
But if you were to write it down for publishing you might find an editors note......

Happy reading..

Answer 3

U.S.A. Both are entirely correct, but the A's B usage is more common in America. The Oxford book covers British usage, but I've found it is not very good for American English.

Answer 4

You can say the second one, but it sounds too proper or formal or something. I don't know, it doesn't sound natural, but it is correct and can be used. I think that people who learn English as a second language tend to use the construction because most languages just use A of B instead of our B's A kind of thing. But it's all ok!

Answer 5

Both are technically correct but the first example is much more natural sounding. The second example sounds like a foreign person speaking English .

Answer 6

Both are entirely acceptable. United States College student.

Answer 7

I believe it should work both ways. I agree with you in the thought that my mind doesn't boggle at hearing the "wrong" phrase. In fact, it almost sounds more correct.

Answer 8

well um the better way to say it is the way it sounds best. the house of my father is a lil book'ish so yeah my father's house is better im 14 from america

Answer 9

Due to my knowledge :
Liveless objects can not be used as A's B.
(e.g The chair's color is brown) is wrong.
In written English, also person should not use with A's either.
( e.g Due to our manager's approval) is not formal. It should be
( The approval of our manager) . But in spoken.
A's B is ok for persons.

Answer 10

Let's not! If you grew up in an English enviroment you wouldn't need to learn. Since you didn't, you can mumble your broken English anyway you want. If you think it hurts your ear, you should be able to imagin the pain in the rectum with the house of your father, his father & all lameassed fathers before that!