Core grammar for higher education − 4e druk 2017
Home | Docentenmateriaal > 24 The possessive form of nouns
A
1 ’s, ’ (= apostrophe), 2 ’s, of, 3 ’s, of, 4 ’s, of, 5 ’s, of, 6 ’s, 7 ’s, of, 8 ’s, of, 9 ’, of, 10 ’s, of, 11 ’s, of, 12 ’s, of, 13 ’s, of, 14 ’s, of, 15 ’s, of, 16 ’, of, 17 ’s, of, 18 ’s, of, 19 ’s, of, 20 ’s , of
B
1 my brother's
2 last year’s catalogue
3 the contents of the container
4 both are correct
5 Susan’s mobile
6 a two hours’ walk / a walk of two hours
7 Mr Jackson’s car
8 a friend of Jim’s
9 both are correct
10 the price of this ring
11 yesterday’s paper
12 both are correct
C
1 the window of the room
2 the employee’s salary / the salary of the employee
(see NB)
3 last week’s meeting
4 the dog’s owner / the owner of the dog
(see NB)
5 the profits of the company / the company’s profits
6 Roy’s girlfriend
7 the demands of the strikers / the strikers’ demands
8 the driver of the lorry / the lorry’s driver
9 the toys of the children / the children’s toys
10 the sights of the city / the city’s sights
11 the new policy of the government / the government’s new policy
12 Iris’ sister / Iris’s sister
NB
With nouns referring to persons and animals the ‘of-phrase’ is also found. Since the ‘of-phrase’ cannot always be used in this case, students are advised to stick to the general rule: ‘s for persons and animals.
D
1 one-year course / one year’s course / course of one year
2 three weeks’ holiday / three-week holiday / holiday of three weeks
3 five-hour journey / five hours’ journey / journey of five hours
4 last week’s earthquake
5 ten-minute delay / ten minutes’ delay / delay of ten minutes
6 next Sunday’s match
7 tomorrow’s weather
8 one-month absence / one month’s absence / absence of one month
E
1 That is the room of my sisters. / my sisters’ room.
2 This snake’s poison / The poison of this snake is lethal / deadly / fatal.
3 Thomas’s / Thomas’ bike / bicycle has been stolen.
4 What were the shareholders’ objections / the objections of the shareholders?
5 The train had an hour’s delay / a one-hour delay / a delay of one hour.
6 Great Britain’s / Britain’s army consists of volunteers. / The army of Great Britain … / The British army ...
7 The shipowner’s wife christened / has christened the new tanker.
8 My uncle’s house burned / burnt down yesterday. / Yesterday …
9 We spent a three weeks’ holiday in Spain. / … three-week holiday / a holiday of three weeks …
10 These women’s husbands were imprisoned. / The husbands of these women …
11 We intend to make / We intend making / We are planning to make / We plan to make a three weeks’ business trip / a three-week business trip / a business trip of three weeks to Indonesia.
12 The cars of the teachers / The teachers’ cars were damaged.
13 Mr Wilson’s wife died last night. / Last night …
14 What is the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting?
15 Have you got / Do you have a leaflet about London’s sights / the sights of London?
16 I read this advertisement / advert / ad in yesterday’s paper / newspaper.
17 Tourism is very important for Portugal’s economy / for the economy of Portugal. / For Portugal’s …
18 After a three hours’ debate / three-hour debate / debate of three hours the government’s policy / the policy of the government was approved.
19 It is a twenty minutes’ walk / twenty-minute walk / walk of twenty minutes.
20 The management of this company / This company’s management wants to outsource / subcontract the production to factories / plants in Korea.
21 The house of our neighbours / Our neighbours’ house has been for sale for months
.
22 The museum’s director / the director of the museum opened the exhibition.
23 Margaret’s friend is the baker’s son.
24 The police have (got) the fingerprints of the two burglars.
25 What is Alisha’s e-mail address?
26 Rotterdam is the world’s biggest / largest port / harbour / … in the world.
27 This is the bank’s policy. / … the policy of the bank.
28 The police know the identity of the man who committed the attack.
F
1 a girl’s name, 2 a women’s magazine/womens magazine, 3 children’s toys, 4 goat’s milk, 5 girls’ fashion, 6 babies’ clothes, 7 a men’s toilet/mens toilet, 8 lamb’s wool, 9 men’s trousers/mens trousers, 10 a nurse’s uniform
G
1 When I saw her at the butcher’s / butcher, she told me (that) she had been ill / sick.
2 She a colleague of my mother’s.
3 Do you sell children’s books?
4 Because / As / Since her bike / bicycle had been stolen, she used her mother’s.
5 At the reception she met some colleagues of her husband’s.
6 Two daughters of my aunt’s have lived / have been living in Canada for years.
7 Who are those girls? They are friends of my sister’s.
8 Tess’s / Tess’ fiancé is a friend of my brother’s.
9 That dog of David’s has bitten me / bit me.
10 I have bought / bought this computer at Watson’s / Watsons.
11 I have met / met her at my aunt’s (house).
12 How were the results of the advertising campaign?
13 This is an old photo / photograph / picture of my grandfather.
14 Is this lighter yours? No it’s Harry’s.
15 Her salary was higher than her husband’s.
16 Woman’s Own is a British women’s magazine. /womens magazine.
H
1 today’s newspaper: With nouns referring to time we add ’s .
2 correct
3 Tom’s sister: With proper nouns ’s is used.
4 last week’s turnover: With nouns referring to time we add ’s .
5 an hour’s delay: With nouns referring to time we add ’s .
6 Mr Longman’s daughter: With proper nouns ’s is used.
7 a friend of my brother’s: When the headword (friend) is preceded by an indefinite article (a), the double possessive must be used.
8 disadvantages of the merger: Nouns referring to things take of.
9 a three hours’ walk: Plural nouns ending in -s only take an apostrophe.
10 Jessica’s pen: With proper nouns ’s is used.
11 policemen’s: The irregular plurals men, women, children take ’s .
12 correct
13 13 at Smith’s/Smiths: names of firms take ‘s or s.
14 at his uncle’s (house): The possessive can be used without a following noun to refer to houses. The possessive form of ‘uncle’ is uncle’s. / The full phrase is ‘at my uncle’s house’ and leaving out ‘house’ results in uncle’s, not ‘uncle’.
15 of my friend’s: When the headword (relatives) is not preceded by another word, the double possessive must be used.
16 correct
17 correct
18 of my brother’s: When the headword (friends) is preceded by a quantifier (some), the double possessive must be used.
19 the top of the page: Nouns referring to things take of.
20 correct
I
1 customers’, 2 week’s, 3 hours’, 4 nurses’