Possessives + Proper Names

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Friedel Martin Frowein - 16 Aug 2004 17:31 GMT

Hi there!

In German, it is possible to combine a possessive pronoun with a proper
name:

Ger. "Du bist mein Paul".
(Engl. "You are my Paul.")

meaning that the speaker wants Paul all for her-/himself. This kind of
utterance can very often be heard from people who are in love.

I was wondering whether or not this is also possible in English. Does the
above sentence sound odd or marked to you?

Thanks!
Friedel

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Bill Bonde ( ``Soli Deo Gloria'' ) - 16 Aug 2004 17:37 GMT

> Hi there!
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> I was wondering whether or not this is also possible in English. Does the
> above sentence sound odd or marked to you?

Only if you aren't in love with Paul.

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John Ramsay - 17 Aug 2004 15:40 GMT

> Hi there!
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Thanks!
> Friedel

English would be the same in romantic
situations.

Quite possible also with same first names.

eg Both men have a wife named Jane, so would use
my Jane - your Jane.

Wives would do same: My David - your David.

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Rotes Sapiens - 21 Aug 2004 04:58 GMT

>In German, it is possible to combine a possessive pronoun with a proper
>name:
>
>Ger. "Du bist mein Paul".
>(Engl. "You are my Paul.")

>meaning that the speaker wants Paul all for her-/himself. This kind of
>utterance can very often be heard from people who are in love.

>I was wondering whether or not this is also possible in English. Does the
>above sentence sound odd or marked to you?

It would be more idiomatic to say "You are my Pauly" using a nickname
or intimate form of the name, or "You are mine, Paul". Also there are
expressions like "You are my one and only" said to a lover.
Alternatively there is "You are mine forever", but we're getting away
from proper nouns.

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I have a brain the size of a planet. It's not much good to me, however. It's on a different planet.

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / August 2004

Possessives + Proper Names