You have been searching the library's book shelves.....

Question

In the sentence below, do you find the use of the 's appropriate/correct after "library"? In other words, is it correct to use the possessive for inanimate things such as a library? Thank you.

You have been searching the library's bookshelves for a long time, looking for a certain book.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

teal lime
In the sentence below, do you find the use of the 's appropriate/correct after "library"? In other words, is it correct to use the possessive for inanimate things such as a library? Thank you.
You have been searching the library's bookshelves for a long time, looking for a certain book.

While it is not wrong, the possessive 's on an inanimate is usually avoided. In keeping with that general principle I always try to revise a sentence that contains that structure.

Nevertheless, as used in your example sentence I don't think the use of "library's" is going to shock anyone, but if you want to change it, you can write the following:

You have been searching the bookshelves at/in the library for a long time, looking for a certain book.

CJ

You have been searching the library's book shelves.....

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