I’m interested by English possessive noun guidelines as a consequence of the truth that Polish college students of English, whom I predominantly train, have grave points in substituting the phrase ‘of’ with apostrophe + s to indicate possession. For example, they might usually say ‘“the brother of John” as an alternative of “John’s brother”.
Subsequently, the aim of this publish is to tell progressive audio system of English when they need to use and the way they need to kind the possessive kind or an English noun, or noun phrase. The possessive case is also called the Saxon Genitive, indicating the suffix’s derivation from Previous English grammar.
To begin with, let’s take into account the query of how the possessive type of an English noun, or noun phrase, is made.
How is the possessive type of an English noun or noun phrase fashioned?
In relation to probably the most elementary possessive noun guidelines, the Saxon Genitive ordinarily revolves round including an apostrophe (‘) adopted by an “s” (‘s) to the noun that possesses one thing or has a reference to one other noun.
As I identified within the introduction to this publish, the Saxon Genitive (with apostrophe + s) substitutes the phrase ‘of‘ to point out possession. It’s primarily used to consult with issues owned by individuals, however it may also be used with animals, organisations and even a while expressions.
In a nutshell:
OWNER + ‘S + PROPERTY
Examples of the Saxon Genitive Singular
- That is Belinda’s cell phone
- The place’s Graham’s suitcase?
- What was the committee’s resolution?
- David’s job sounds actually fascinating
- Steve’s persistence is operating out
It turns into clear from the above examples that the Saxon genitive can be utilized earlier than each concrete and summary nouns. Concrete nouns (e.g. cell phone, suitcase) are bodily gadgets which might be sensed, i.e. seen, touched, heard, tasted and smelled. Conversely, summary nouns (e.g. persistence) are feelings, concepts, and different intangibles.
The Saxon Genitive with Plurals
You might be questioning what occurs with the apostrophe if a plural noun ending in -s, similar to college students, is in query.
Once we use the saxon genitive with a plural noun, similar to dad and mom, we simply add an apostrophe after the ultimate ‘s’ to point possession. For instance:
- The coeds’ outcomes
- My mum or dads’ cottage
The pronunciation of the common noun (college students) and the plural possessive noun (college students’) is identical. It’s simply the written kind that’s totally different.
Different possessive noun guidelines to contemplate
So we’ve already thought-about the 2 commonest methods to make use of the Saxon Genitive, that’s for singular nouns and plural nouns ending in ‘s’. Listed here are three extra possessive noun guidelines that are value making an allowance for:
1. Plural nouns which don’t finish in ‘s’
In a lot the identical means as singular nouns, irregular plural nouns which don’t finish in ‘s’ require an apostrophe adopted by ‘s’. For instance:
- Girls’s rights
- The Folks’s Courtroom
- The Kids’s Basis
- Males’s clothes
2. Possessive noun guidelines with a compound topic
A compound topic is a topic that consists of at the very least two components linked by coordinating conjunctions. In English, there are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, for, nor, however, or, but, so. The commonest conjunction in English is and.
In relation to joint possession, i.e. when two or extra individuals share possession of one thing, it’s solely needed so as to add the possessive ending (‘s) to the final noun. For instance:
- John and Dave’s enterprise is on the snapping point
- Kate and John’s home is extraordinarily cosy
Subsequently, John and Dave share possession of a struggling enterprise, whereas Kate and John share possession of a home (or stay in the identical home although the home won’t be a “neighborhood property” that was acquired throughout a wedding).
If it’s essential point out two or extra homeowners with separate possession of two of the identical component, add ‘s to each nouns. For instance:
Steve’s and Mark’s grades actually exceeded my expectations
3. Denoting possession with inanimate objects
The Saxon Genitive could also be used to precise connections between inanimate objects or ideas. For instance:
- The Earth’s ambiance
- The solar’s rays
What are a number of the commonest capabilities of the Saxon Genitive?
Other than referring to issues owned by individuals (private possession), the aforementioned Saxon Genitive possessive noun guidelines are relevant in quite a lot of contexts, together with:
1. Possession of issues not deemed private possessions
- The corporate’s losses are rising
- The pupil’s behaviour has obtained worse
2. Relationships between individuals
- My buddy’s uncle
- The surgeon’s affected person
3. Nouns describing time
- Tomorrow’s climate forecast isn’t too promising
- Have you ever seen at the moment’s headlines?
- I’m prepared for this afternoon’s board assembly
- Subsequent 12 months’s price range
4. Collective nouns
- The gang’s fixed abuse of the away crew goalkeeper
- The federal government’s technique
5. Animals and traits
- Why is that canine’s tail wagging like that?
- You shouldn’t trim your cat’s whiskers
6. Physique elements
- The kidney’s means to control fluid stability
- The mind’s vitality calls for
7. Outlets, church buildings, eating places and schools, utilizing the title or job title of the proprietor
- Let’s go to Marco’s for pizza
- I’ve obtained an appointment on the dentist’s at ten o’clock
- Is St. Margaret’s an all-girls faculty?
- I’m on the hairdresser’s
- I’ll be on the vet’s at the moment
8. Names of illnesses
- Down’s Syndrome
- Parkinson’s Illness
- Alzheimer’s Illness
9. Fastened expressions and idioms which take the possessive kind
- a stone’s throw away
- for heaven’s sake
- in your thoughts’s eye
- a baker’s dozen
- to play satan’s advocate
When is it usually inappropriate to make use of the Saxon Genitive?
When you think about English possessive noun guidelines, it’s additionally important to pay heed to instances the place the usually versatile Saxon Genitive is just not used. Let’s check out these instances:
1. With objects
The Saxon Genitive usually doesn’t coexist with inanimate nouns. With objects, it’s extra acceptable to make use of the preposition ‘of’ versus apostrophe + s. For instance:
- the roof of our home (NOT ‘Our home’s roof’)
- the tip of the highway (NOT ‘The highway’s finish’)
- the color of your eyes (NOT ‘Your eyes’ color’)
2. Relationship between individuals and places
When expressing relationships between individuals and locations, it’s usually extra acceptable to make use of select constructions containing the preposition ‘of’ versus the Saxon Genitive. For instance:
He’s the husband of a biology instructor who works at my faculty
3. Proprietor’s title previous a clause
When the proprietor’s title precedes a clause, it’s higher to make use of ‘of’. For example:
The President of the Republic of Serbia
Value remembering:
When the inanimate noun is the results of human motion, it’s acceptable to make use of the Saxon Genitive. For instance:
- the report’s conclusions = the conclusions of the report
- the committee’s solutions = the solutions of the committee
- the federal government’s coverage = the coverage of the federal government
Possessive Noun Guidelines: Additional frequent Pitfalls and Suggestions
Although there are seemingly few possessive noun guidelines which revolve round using apostrophe + s, there are nonetheless a number of stylistic and grammatical traps which learners of English might fall into. Particularly:
1. The pointless use of a noun after the Saxon Genitive
It usually occurs that we are able to omit the noun after the Saxon Genitive when the which means within the sentence is evident. For instance:
- My automotive is quicker than David’s (David’s = David’s automotive)
- Jason’s pizza is larger than Jessica’s (Jason’s = Jason’s pizza)
- I’m simply popping over to Maria’s (Maria’s = Maria’s home)
- Lets simply meet at Harry’s? (Harry’s = Harry’s bar)
- Is that Michael’s canine over there? – No, it’s my neighbour’s. (My neighbour’s = My Neighbour’s canine)
2. Make use of the Double Genitive
Take a look on the following sentence:
It had lengthy been a dream of Steve’s to journey round the US
Because the title suggests, the double genitive is a grammatical development which accommodates two possessive kinds inside one single phrase or sentence. Often known as the double possessive, the double genitive combines the prepositional of genitive with the apostrophe ‘s construction.
The double genitive usually goes hand in hand with nouns that describe relationships, similar to “spouse”, “buddy”, “neighbour” or “accomplice”. Furthermore, it might coexist with inanimate objects and summary nouns that individuals are carefully linked with, as with dream within the sentence above.
Additional examples:
- He’s a buddy of my father’s
- She’s a cousin of the Queen’s
Total, the position of the double genitive is to strengthen readability and to emphasize the connection between the possessor and the merchandise in query. The double genitive might sometimes appear redundant. Nonetheless, the development does serve so as to add depth to expressions of possession.
3. Expressing chain relationships can get sophisticated for decrease degree learners of English
In relation to denoting relationships with apostrophe + s, it’s additionally attainable to point out a series relationship within the following means:
My mom’s brother’s son is in hospital
Using a number of Saxon Genitive constructions in a single clause and sentence comes very naturally to native audio system. Nevertheless, I’m certain that decrease degree learners of English, particularly, have a tough time placing individuals within the chain relationship in the appropriate order with the apostrophes in the appropriate place.
Polish Learners of English – Troubles with the Saxon Genitive
In my publish concerning the typical errors that Polish learners of English make, I might have included the overuse of the preposition of on the subject of describing relationships between individuals.
The Polish genitive case appears to be like a little bit like this:
Córka brata jest śliczna (Sister + brother + is + stunning)
Actually translated into English, in a grammatically acceptable sense:
The daughter of my brother is gorgeous
In my expertise, some Polish learners of English might translate the sentence with none grammatical grounding in any respect. For instance:
(The) Daughter my brother is gorgeous
Daughter of my brother is gorgeous
Summing up, one ought to make use of the Saxon Genitive right here:
My brother’s daughter is gorgeous
Remaining Ideas
It has come to my consideration that many textbooks and grammar information follow books omit possessive noun guidelines pertaining to the Saxon Genitive. Frankly, the misuse of constructions with ‘of’ and the Saxon Genitive might impede the listener’s understanding greater than mixing up tenses, similar to the current good and current good steady. Subsequently, it’s my competition that the principles of possessive nouns deserve their place in coursebooks and grammar guides.