Page 115 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

T h e p o s s e s s i v e f o r m o f n o u n s ( J a n e ' s m o t h e r )
of
(Jane's
form
possessive
mother)
The
nouns
in writing,
possessive
form
of nouns
('apostrophe
to
s')
's
add
singular nouns
we
To make the possessive form of nouns in writing, we add 's (‘apostrophe s') to singular nouns
To make the
and to to irregular plurals that don't end in -s:
and irregular plurals that don't end in -s:
Philip's car; the college's administrators; the women's liberation movement
• ¢ Philip's car; the college's administrators; the women's liberation movement
add ' (an apostrophe) to regular plurals:
and
and add ' (an apostrophe) to regular plurals:
the boys'
football
boots; the companies'
difficulties.
• ¢ the boys' football boots; the companies' difficulties.
We can use the possessive form of nouns with people or groups of people (e.g. companies),
We can use the possessive form of nouns with people or groups of people (e.g. companies),
To make the possessive form of names
places, and times.
ending in
other living things,
other living things, places, and times. To make the possessive form of names ending in
(pronounced /z/) we can add either ' or 's:
-s -s (pronounced /z/) we can add either ' or 's:
(or Derek Jones's) new sports car.
It's Derek Jones'
• ¢ It's Derek Jones' (or Derek Jones's) new sports car.
may not be
of a noun phrase, which
's to the last word
we add
a noun:
Sometimes we add 's to the last word of a noun phrase, which may not be a noun:
Sometimes
boy on the
left's sister.
• ¢ She's the boy on the left's sister.
She's the
say:
We can
We can say:
That old car of Jo's is unsafe, and • A novel of Jim Kerr's has been made into a film.
• * That old car of Jo's is unsafe. and * A novel of Jim Kerr's has been made into a film.
between people we can also use a noun without's:
«When we are talking about relationships between people we can also use a noun without ’s:
When we are talking about relationships
An uncle of Mark's,
(or An uncle of Mark.)
• * • ¢ An uncle of Mark’s. (or An uncle of Mark.)
about someone's home
talk
left out when
possessive
a
we
following
can
be
noun
or
form
The noun following a possessive form can be left out when we talk about someone's home or
The
some shops and services (e.g. the newsagent's, the chemist's, the hairdresser's):
some shops and services (e.g. the newsagent's, the chemist's, the hairdresser's):
(= Linda's home)
We're going to Linda's for the evening.
• ¢ We're going to Linda's for the evening. (= Linda's home)
I must go to the butcher's this morning. (= the butcher's shop) (Notice that in cases like this
• ¢ I must go to the butcher's this morning. (= the butcher's shop) (Notice that in cases like this
we can also use the singular without's: I must go to the butcher this morning.)
we can also use the singular without ’s: I must go to the butcher this morning.)
also usually leave out the noun when the meaning is clear in cases like:
We
We also usually leave out the noun when the meaning is clear in cases like:
'Richard's.' (rather than Richard's hat.)
'Whose hat is this?’
• ¢ 'Whose hat is this?' 'Richard's.' (rather than Richard's hat.)
in
can
or
possessive
meaning:
's
use the
we
of + noun with
very little
difference
0 Often we can use the possessive 's or of + noun with very little difference in meaning:
Often
beauty
Ireland's
the beauty of Ireland
• ¢ Ireland's beauty or or • * the beauty of Ireland
the company's policy
the policy of the company
• ¢ the company's policy or or • * the policy of the company
possessive
In general, we
form
the
prefer to
sometimes we
use
are
or the of form.
However,
However, sometimes we prefer to use the possessive form or the of form. In general, we are
more likely to use the possessive 's form of a noun:
more likely to use the possessive 's form of a noun:
when the noun
refers to
a particular person or group of people:
• ¢ when the noun refers to a particular person or group of people:
Carolyn's illness (rather than the illness of Carolyn)
• * Carolyn's illness [rather than the illness of Carolyn)
• ¢ the children's coats (rather than the coats of the children)
the children's coats (rather than the coats of the children)
when we are talking about time, as in:
• ¢ when we are talking about time, as in:
(rather than the holiday prices of next year)
• * next year's holiday prices (rather than the holiday prices of next year)
next year's holiday prices
last night's TV programmes (rather than the TV programmes of last night)
a @ • ° last night's TV programmes (rather than the TV programmes of last night)
holiday
weeks'
a
say:
•
holiday.
that we can
two-week
had
We had two
Spain,
in
or We
• Notice that we can say: * We had two weeks' holiday in Spain. or We had a two-week holiday.
*Notice
• « when we are talking about a process, or a change over time: block's construction) aa
likely to
use the
are more
of + noun form:
In general, we are more likely to use the of + noun form:
In general, we
with an inanimate noun,
referring to something that is not living:
i.e.
• ¢ with an inanimate noun, i.e. referring to something that is not living:
(rather than the book's cover)
the cover of the book (or the book cover)
• ¢ the cover of the book (or the book cover) (rather than the book's cover)
the
office block
office
of the
(rather than
the construction of the office block (rather than the office block's construction)
the construction
• ¢
when we are talking about a process, or a change over time:
establishment of the
establishment)
the committee's
(rather than
committee
• ¢
the establishment of the committee (rather than the committee's establishment)
the
the
destruction
than
of the
forest
(rather
forest's
destruction)
• ¢
the
the destruction of the forest (rather than the forest's destruction)
when the noun is a
long noun phrase:
• ¢ when the noun is a long noun phrase:
She is the sister of someone I used to go to school with,
(rather than
She is someone I used to
• * She is the sister of someone I used to go to school with. (rather than She is someone | used to
sister.)
go to school with's
go to school with's sister.)
Possessive +-ing =
Possessive + -ing=>