LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

2 Nouns

2.8

2.8A

Study:

1*3

The genitive

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

[> LEG 2.42-46]

1 We show possession in English with the genitive form of a noun. This means we normally use

's and s' for people and some living creatures. We put the possessive before the noun it refers

to: Frank's car. (Not 'the car of Frank/the 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.


• add's to names ending in -s: Charles's address, Doris's party, St James's Park.
  Famous names ending in s just add ('): Yeats'poetry. This is pronounced /s/or/iz/.

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

1 This bicycle is for a child

2 This pen belongs to the teacher ....'.л

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

2.8B

Study:

I*з

Write:

Apostrophe s ('s/s'), compound noun, or 'of? [> LEG 2 .47-48,2.50]

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 [> 2.2В].

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.

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

1 That's the voice of a man

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