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Understanding the Genitive Case Rules

The document discusses rules for using the possessive (genitive) case in English. There are 8 main rules: 1) add 's to singular nouns, 2) add only an apostrophe to plural nouns ending in s, 3) add 's to irregular plural nouns, 4) names ending in s can take just an apostrophe or 's, 5) possessives can be part of phrases, 6) the possessive can be used without a following noun, 7) 's is used with organizations/places/companies, 8) 's is used when referring to shops without mentioning "shop". Exceptions are also noted for plural nouns that are pronounced the same as the singular possessive.

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Amelia Ionescu
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78 views4 pages

Understanding the Genitive Case Rules

The document discusses rules for using the possessive (genitive) case in English. There are 8 main rules: 1) add 's to singular nouns, 2) add only an apostrophe to plural nouns ending in s, 3) add 's to irregular plural nouns, 4) names ending in s can take just an apostrophe or 's, 5) possessives can be part of phrases, 6) the possessive can be used without a following noun, 7) 's is used with organizations/places/companies, 8) 's is used when referring to shops without mentioning "shop". Exceptions are also noted for plural nouns that are pronounced the same as the singular possessive.

Uploaded by

Amelia Ionescu
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

POSSESSIVE (GENITIVE) CASE

SAXON GENITIVE

The Rules:
We normally use the s with people, animals though it can also be used with
places, organizations and companies (which suggest a group of people).
It is not common to use the s with non-living things (OBJECTS NO S)
1. Singular nouns
add 's

My mothers house is next to the beach. (= the house of my mother)


Jasons car was stolen last night. (= the car of Jason)
Tomorrow, were all going to see the museums new art exhibit.

2. Plural nouns ending in s


only add the apostrophe ' (without the S)

The two sisters house is next to mine. (= the house of the two sisters)
The plumbers tools were rusty. (= the tools of the plumbers)
The players boots were dirty and smelly after the game. (= the boots of
the players)

Notice that the pronunciation is the same for certain possessives:

My friends house = the house of my friend = 1 friend


My friends house = the house of my friends = 2 or more friends

You can usually distinguish whether the speaker is referring to one or two friends
by listening to the context of what the speaker says.
3. Plural nouns not ending in s (IRREGULAR PLURAL):
add 's

Be careful not to trip over the childrens toys. (= the toys of the children)
The womens bathroom is currently flooded with water.
The presidential candidate is often called the peoples favorite politician.

The foxs tail


The oxs hooves
Our gooses eggs
The huge fishs tail
The Sphynx s head

singular

pronounced [ ..i:z}

Same pronounciation for pluaral nous as follows:

The geeses feathers


The foxes tails
The horses legs
The micess tails

pronounced [ ..i:z}

4. Singular noun ending in s:


It depends
a. Most names: 's (apostrophe S) or just noun

They had a really good time at Jamess barbecue last Friday. Or: James
barbecue
We spent the day admiring Francess new car. Or: Frances new car.

b. Classical or religious names: add ' (only the apostrophe)

Jesus disciples carried out the teachings of Jesus.


Sophocles plays are still performed today.

5. Possessive nouns as part of a phrase


Sometimes more than one word/noun is a possessive. The same rules as above
are still valid:

The King of Spartas wife was called Helen.


The President of Chiles speech was very long.
I accidentally took someone elses bag home by mistake.
I had to give my boss three weeks notice that I was leaving the
company.

If there are two owners of something, we add 's to the final name:

Rick and Steves car is quite old.

But, if each person owns a car, then add 's to both names:

Ricks and Steves cars are quite old.

Notice how the verb is in plural form.


6. No Noun

If the meaning is clear, we can use the possessive without a noun after it.

Her hair is longer than Jills. (= Jills hair)


We ate at Billys last night. (= Billys Diner or Billys house)
Whose bag is this? Its Janes. (= Janes bag)

7. We use s with organizations, places , companies ( expressing groups


of people):

Natos troops
The towns choice
The governments opinion
The companys success was huge.
8. When speaking about going to shops, doctors place etc we us the s without
mentioning the word shop or place.

My coat need cleaning. Ill take it to the dry cleaners.


I am going to the butchers / florists / chemists/ doctors.

EXPRESSIONS:

Todays newspaper
Yesterdays news
A two hours walk
A few minutes rest / break
A three years time
At one stones throw
To ones heart content /desire
A birds eye view
At ones fingers end
For Gods sake / for goodness sake
For orders sake
Art for arts sake
But:

!!!! for Alicess sake

Some of the above expressions can be transformed in adjective + noun


singular construction:

A two hours walk a two- hour walk


A four- week course
A six- mile walk
Two 14-year-old girls
A five-minute break

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