a woman's portrait/a portrait of a woman

[Verona_82]

Hello!

My Russian grammar book draws a sharp distiction between these two expressions - "a woman's portrait' and 'a portrait of a woman' saying that the first demonstrates posession (some portrait belongs to some woman) and the latter shows that in some picture you can see some woman.

I've got doubts about the first one. Doesn't 'a woman's portrait' mean both, either posession or graphic representation?

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[5jj]

Hello!

My Russian grammar book draws a sharp distiction between these two expressions - "a woman's portrait' and 'a portrait of a woman' saying that the first demonstrates posession (some portrait belongs to some woman) and the latter shows that in some picture you can see some woman. Your dictionary reflects common usage.

I've got doubts about the first one. Doesn't 'a woman's portrait' mean both, either posession or graphic representation?I suppose it's possible, but I think it highly unlikely. Incidentally, it could also just about mean: 'a portrait that would appeal to women/a woman'.

5jj

 

[Barb_D]

On this one, 5jj, we disagree.

For me, "a woman's portrait" is just as likely to mean "a portrait depicting a woman."

Context, as with almost everything else, will make one meaning far more likely than the other.

 

[5jj]

On this one, 5jj, we disagree. There has to be a first time for everything.

For me, "a woman's portrait" is just as likely to mean "a portrait depicting a woman."

Context, as with almost everything else, will make one meaning far more likely than the other. I agree entirely.

Do you think that's a personal thing, or could it be BrE vs AmE?
Perhaps we'll have to wait to see whether other speakers of BrE agree with me.

 

[Barb_D]

It could be either one!

(I'm sure you'll agree that context would indicate the meaning in real life, though, even if the meaning you say is unlikely is intended, right?)

 

[5jj]

It could be either one!

(I'm sure you'll agree that context would indicate the meaning in real life, though, even if the meaning you say is unlikely is intended, right?) Indeed. Context is King!

5jj