Genitive case (with 's and of) in English
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In this chapter the genitive in English will be explained. The genitive is used to express possession, that something belongs to someone or some sort of relationship between elements in that sentence.
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.What is the genitive case in English?
- 2.How is the genitive formed?
- 3.Genitive case with 's
- 3.1.Genitive with a singular noun
- 3.1.1.Examples:
- 3.2.Genitive with a plural noun
- 3.2.1.Examples:
- 3.3.Use of the '-'s' genitive in English
- 4.Genitive with 'of' in English
- 4.1.How to form the genitive 'of'
- 4.2.Use of the genitive 'of' in English
- 5.Double genitive with 's and of in English
- 6.Exercises
- 6.1.Practice the genitive in English with 's or of
- 6.2.Choose in the genitive with 's or of
- 6.3.Fill in the genitive with 's or of
What is the genitive case in English?
The genitive in English is used to indicate that something belongs to someone. It establishes a relationship between two elements in a sentence.
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How is the genitive formed?
There are two options to form the genitive:
| Genitive | Examples |
|---|---|
| 1. Genitive with '-'s' |
|
| 2. Genitive with 'of' |
|
1) Genitive case with 's
The genitive with '-'s' is used to clarify that something belongs to persons or animals.
Genitive with a singular noun
To form this genitive '-'s' is added to the noun.
Noun + apostrophe + s + thing possessed
Examples:
- Lucia's house is very big.
- My sister's bag is red.
- That is my mother's bag.
Keep in mind:
- If the possession is shared, '-'s' is added after the last word.
Example: Peter and Julia's mom is pregnant. - If the possession is not shared, an '-'s' is added to both words.
Example: Peter's and Julia's mothers are young.
Genitive with a plural noun
If the noun that possesses something in the sentence is in plural, the genitive is formed by adding an apostrophe.
Noun + apostrophe + thing/things owned
Examples:
- The boys' desks are big.
- The artists' works are beautiful.
- The girls' bags are pink.
If the plural is irregular, '-'s' is added:
- Children's books are full of images.
- The women's husbands are proud of them.
- The men's bags are full of food.
Use of the '-'s' genitive in English
The table below shows the situations in which the '-'s' genitive is used in English.
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| To belong to persons and animals |
|
| To specify a time measurement |
|
| To describe places without a caregiver |
|
| To talk about things referring to people |
|
| Without referencing to a word |
|
If time is plural, the genitive is used in plural.
2) Genitive with 'of' in English
The genitive 'of' is used in English with abstract and inanimate things.
How to form the genitive 'of'
The genitive 'of' is added to the noun, the noun could be singular or plural.
- The smell of the flower.
- The smell of the flowers.
Use of the genitive 'of' in English
The table below shows the situations in which the 'of' genitive is used in English.
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| In terms of property names |
|
| For persons |
|
3) Double genitive with 's and of in English
When two genitive forms are combined, it is called the double genitive. This will happen in two cases, see the table below.
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| For persons with a partial relationship |
|
| After 'a', 'some', 'any', 'several' |
|
Train your skills by doing the exercises!
Exercises
- Practice the genitive in English with 's or of
- Choose in the genitive with 's or of
- Fill in the genitive with 's or of
Practice the genitive in English with 's or of
Choose in the genitive with 's or of
Fill in the genitive with 's or of
Exercises
- Practice the genitive in English with 's or of
- Choose in the genitive with 's or of
- Fill in the genitive with 's or of
Practice the genitive in English with 's or of
Choose in the genitive with 's or of
Fill in the genitive with 's or of
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