The genitive

How to show possession with 's, s' and the apostrophe (') on its own

   1)       We show possession in English with the genitive form of a noun. This means we normally use 'sand s' for people and some living creatures. We put the possessive before the noun it refers to: Frank's car. (Not 'the car of FranWthe car of Frank's*)

   2)       The simplest rule to remember is: Add 's to any personal noun unless it is in the form of a plural ending in -s, - in which case, just add an apostrophe ('). This means:

- add 's to singular nouns and names not ending in -s: a boy's tie, Tom's hat.

- add 's to singular nouns ending in -s: an actress's career, a waitress's job.

- add 's to irregular plural nouns: children's games, the men's club, sheep's wool.- add an apostrophe (') after the -s of regular plurals: the girls' uniforms.

Write: Rewrite these sentences using 's, s: or just an apostrophe (I).

1 This bicycle is for a child. ......This is a child’s bicycle.

2 This pen belongs to the teacher.

..............................................................................................

3 He described the career of the actress. ..............................................................................................

4 That's a job for a stewardess.

..............................................................................................

5 These toys belong to the children. ..............................................................................................

6 This is a club for women.

 ..............................................................................................

7 It's a school for girls.

..............................................................................................

8 This is the lounge for residents.

..............................................................................................

9 This umbrella belongs to James.

 ..............................................................................................

10 That hat belongs to Doris.

..............................................................................................

Apostrophe s ('s/s'), compound noun, or 'of'?

   1)       When we want to show possession with things, we can use of: the leg of the table.

However, we often prefer to use a compound noun instead of of: the table-leg.

   2)       We must use of when we can't form a compound noun:

The book of the film (Not *the film’s book*); the top of the box (Not *the box’s top)

You can only learn these from experience. If you are in doubt, use of.

Write: Only where possible, use an apostrophe to show possession in these sentences.

1 That's the voice of a man. .....That’s a man’s voice.

2 I can't see the bottom of the box. .................................................................................................

3 That's the decision of the committee. .................................................................................................

4 It's the fault of no one.

.................................................................................................

5 This is a copy of the poetry of Keats. .................................................................................................

6 That's the leg of the table.

.................................................................................................

7 Where's the key of the car?

.................................................................................................

8 That's the bell of the village church that you can hear. .................................................................................................

9 These are the stables of the horses. .................................................................................................

The use of 's and s' with non-living things: 'an hour's journey'

We use 's and s' with some non-living things:

- fixed phrases: the earth's surface, journey's end, the ship's company

-time phrases (singular): an hour’s journey, a day’s work, a month’s salary.

-time phrases (plural): two hours’ journey, two days’ work, two months’ salary.