when must I use "of" to link two nouns

[semcem]

Hello,

please can you explain to me when I must use "of" to link two nouns, I always find it very dificult.

exp: where is the correct sentense?

"temperature of water" or "water temperature"

"energy of the motor" or "motor energy"

" creation of the network" or "the network creation"

note: I write in FORMAL english

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello.

Please can you explain to me when I must use "of" to link two nouns? I always find it very difficult.

For exp example, where is the which of the following is correct? sentence?

1. "temperature of water" or "water temperature"
2. "energy of the motor" or "motor energy"
3. "creation of the network" or "the network creation"

Note: I write in FORMAL formal English.

Welcome to the forum.

Please note my corrections above. It doesn't matter whether you're writing formal English or not, you must follow these rules of written English at all times:
- Start every sentence with a capital letter.
- End every sentence with one appropriate punctuation mark.
- Always capitalise the word "I" and all proper nouns, such as "English".

You haven't written any sentences. You have written three fragments. You need to ask us about each one individually and put them into complete sentences. Please start a new thread for your first example, and remember to follow the rules I gave you above.

 

[semcem]

Thank you for your reply.

Can you please tell me whether the following sentence is correct?

"Sensors' activities and communications lead to temperature rise."

 

[SoothingDave]

In a simple example, like you first said, "water temperature" is preferred and natural.

Your example about sensors, however, is much better and clearer when written "The activities and communications of the sensors..."

 

[semcem]

In a simple example, like you first said, "water temperature" is preferred and natural.

Your example about sensors, however, is much better and clearer when written "The activities and communications of the sensors..."

thank you so much,
Is it grammatically wrong if it is written "Sensors' activities"? I care because I use similar combinations like nodes' temperature, nodes' energy ...', or I should replace them all as you recommended (i.e. the temperature of nodes, the energy of nodes,...).

 

[SoothingDave]

Are you really referring to more than one sensor or node?

I would use the longer phrase (temperature of the node) the first time, and then "node temperature" any subsequent times. No need for the possessive.

 

[semcem]

Are you really referring to more than one sensor or node?

I would use the longer phrase (temperature of the node) the first time, and then "node temperature" any subsequent times. No need for the possessive.

Yes, sometimes I refer to more than one node. if I well understood, it is not needed to use the possessive form each time after its first use. so I need to write for example (the energy of node(s)), then I write (the node(s) energy).

 

[SoothingDave]

When plural it becomes more problematic. I would stick to "energy of the nodes" because "node energy" is natural, but doesn't denote plurality, where "nodes' energy" when spoken is ambiguous.

 

[semcem]

When plural it becomes more problematic. I would stick to "energy of the nodes" because "node energy" is natural, but doesn't denote plurality, where "nodes' energy" when spoken is ambiguous.

Thank you so much, I understood; I really appreciate your help.

 

[Tdol]

You could make the whole sensor thing uncountable:

Sensor activity and communication....

 

[semcem]

You could make the whole sensor thing uncountable:

Sensor activity and communication....

Yes, but as SoothingDave said, the thing becomes more problematic with plural. so I have to write: "the activities and communications of sensors ..."

 

[Tarheel]

What do the sensors do?

 

[semcem]

What do the sensors do?

They are attached to the human body (e.g. ECG, EEG,...), they capture data concerning the human body.

 

[Tarheel]

You get information from the sensors. They tell you what to do.

You could say they transmit data from one place to another. However, a human being is needed to interpret the data. That's who does the important work.

 

[semcem]

You get information from the sensors. They tell you what to do.

You could say they transmit data from one place to another. However, a human being is needed to interpret the data. That's who does the important work.

My initial question was: can I write sensors' Activities (or nodes' temperature,...), i.e. is it grammatically correct to say this? because according to my little knowledge in English, 's is used only with humans, animals, plants, and organization. but I have noted in some papers the use of (sensors', nodes',...) where authors are not native English speakers, so I posed the question.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, I know that.

 

[emsr2d2]

according to my little knowledge in of English, 's is used only with humans, animals, plants, and organizations.

Where did you get that idea?

 

[Tdol]

Yes, but as SoothingDave said, the thing becomes more problematic with plural. so I have to write: "the activities and communications of sensors ..."

Isn't he saying the opposite?

 

[semcem]

Where did you get that idea?

Is it wrong?
I got it from several English courses on the net, I have read the following on: dictionary.cambridge.org

"When we don’t use ’s​

We don’t use ’s when the noun is not a person, animal, country, organisation, etc., or when the noun phrase is very long ..."

 

[semcem]

Isn't he saying the opposite?

Can you explain, please?