The English Oracle

Using a name as a contraction with "is", syntax looks possessive?

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Chapters
00:00 Using A Name As A Contraction With &Quot;Is&Quot;, Syntax Looks Possessive?
00:24 Accepted Answer Score 5
00:49 Thank you

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Tags
#americanenglish #names #contractions

#avk47


ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 5


The answer is that it's grammatically proper to write or say "Bob's fat," yes.

It indeed looks (and sounds) the same whether the intention is "Bob is fat" or "The fat of Bob." The difference in understanding would need to come from the context, in writing, or the context or inflection, in speech.

So if the context does not make it clear the precise intention, then it would be smarter to use "Bob is fat" as that phrase is quite clear.